• Thursday-What'sUP March 22 - 12:27 pm

Today's photos and information come to us from Rod Burdick, one of our knowledgeable "boat nerds", that keeps the rest of us "freighter fanatics" in the know with the comings and goings around Marquette Harbor and Escanaba.

Rod had this to say about today's photos: "Boats are moving again on the lakes. The first two lakers of the season visited Marquette and Escanaba this past week. The Mesabi Miner arrived at the Upper Harbor in Marquette on March 17 to unload coal. Mesabi Miner wintered in Superior, Wisconsin so she was not affected by the Soo Locks, which don't open until March 25. Joseph L. Block loaded ore in Escanaba on Thursday, March 15, for the steel mills on Lower Lake Michigan."

So there you have it... the boats are back and the shipping season is getting under way once again. Thanks for keeping us posted, Rod!

When we published today's Pasty Cam among the night owls this morning, I noticed there was one boat visible over on the Marine Traffic Report at Pasty.NET. It is the John G. Munson, upbound at 14.2 knots. Edie and I have not seen our first boat yet, but looks like this one may pass Eagle River before sunrise. Our thanks to the KCRA for getting this service set up last year:

The shipping pictures are the best, my favorites!

Let the season begin. Thanks to all for the great pictures on this site. To those that are facinated by the large ships there is the SS VALLEY CAMP freighter dockside at the Soo that you can tour from the pilot house to engine room, including the cargo holds.

Waiting for the Munson to pass 5 Mile Point and see
if the Sunset Bay Webcam can catch the 1st boat of
the season. Yeah! The Lake is coming back to us.

How big is the Mesabi Miner? It appears
to go on forever.

So nice to see the boats out there again!

I watched the Mesabi Miner arrive in haze and fog at Duluth the other morning, via the webcam! I always check that cam everyday but was surprised to see the arrival of a ship this early.
I agree with you, Eddyfitz, the Valley Camp is worth a visit.

Mesabi Miner is 1004 feet long. For more information about her, you can visit this site, there are probably other sites out there with info such as BoatNerd : http://duluthshippingnews.com/ship0280/

The William A. Irvin in Duluth is a nice tour. Sailed next to the Mesabi Minor within 50 ft. on a Sunset Cruise aboard the Isle Royale Queen out in the shipping lanes of Lake Superior! Capt. Donnie rocks!

The long boats return.

For you boatnerds...is there still a docked ship in Superiop, Wi that we visited years ago? Seems it was shaped round like a cigar and was maybe used in WW2? We didn't get on board but took some snaps. Also loved touring the ore ship in the Sault (cheese, it's too early for me to spell correctly!!) It's certainly a good sign now that the ships are active Just wished I was some where where I could admire them. Beautiful giants especialy from a beach or pier. Top o' the morning everyone. Looking good here in NW Illinois. A few showers to further green up the lawn. :O>)

Lakers and aircraft carriers! My favorite ships to watch and tour! Thanks so much, Don, for the pics!

I'm a boatnerd from way back but can't help you much, Kay, except that sounds like a long-ago 'whaleback'.

the following is from wikipedia:
SS Meteor is the sole surviving ship of the
unconventional "whaleback" design.[2] The design,
created by Scottish captain Alexander McDougall
(1845–1923), enabled her to carry a maximum amount
of cargo with a minimum of draft. The Meteor was
built in 1896 in Superior, Wisconsin and, with a
number of modifications, sailed until 1969. She is
currently a museum ship in the city of her birth.

The Marine Traffic report is just FASCINATING!! I
will keep a better eye on it for now on. Wow, what
technology will allow us to enjoy nowdays... :)

Kay when we were in Superior last year the ship, SS Meteor, you were asking about was still there but closed due to asbestos issues.

Where is the Mesabi Miner now? It's not showing up
on the marine report link, and since the locks are
still closed it couldn't have left L. Superior.

That's what I was wondering too, Robert. It left Duluth again today, but no word on where it's bound, at least that I can find.

The Mesabi Miner shows up on the boastnerd website:

http://ais.boatnerd.com/

The Marine Traffic Report is awesome. I sent the link to my husband who loves stuff like that. And since we plan to spend some time in the UP this summer, it will be fun to see where the boats are.

Hey friends...yep that's the one...the Meteor! Wouldn't it be something to work on one of those monsters.( right EddyFritz?) Always wondered what it would be like to be a cook on one. I know an older local lady who was a cook on a barge. She liked it but they own your soul. Never knew where she had to catch up at on short notice. Hard work for sure.

The Aircraft carrier USS Nimitz is 1092 feet long, so the big ore boats are almost as long. Incredible.