• Tuesday-What'sUP January 15 - 06:39 pm

Rod Burdick was busy over the past few weeks, snapping photos of the last of the freighters to visit the Marquette Harbor before the closing of the Soo Locks today. That of course signals the end of the shipping season for Lake Superior traffic, until sometime in March.

Rod's first photo, captured the Michipicoten waiting at the dock, for a load of ore.
His next shot, shows the Cason J. Calloway, with ore cars moving on the dock above.
The next image is of the last coal cargo of the 2012 - 2013 shipping season, being unloaded into the Upper Harbor hopper, by the 1,000 footer, James R. Barker.

And finally, the last photo from Rod... that's the Arthur M. Anderson, which you might recognize by name, at least, as the last vessel to have had contact with the Edmund Fitzgerald before she sunk to the bottom of Lake Superior. She's there loading ore before heading out for her last run on the Big Lake for the season.

To feed your freighter fascination while the season is on break, you can head on over to Boatnerd.com, where you'll find all kinds of information about shipping and the boats. For instance, if you'd like to read more about the freighter in Rod's last photo and its "storied past", you'll find that there, too: Arthur M. Anderson.

Great freighter pictures! Shouldn't be too much longer for lay up time?

Of course these are Rod's pictures. Love them! Thanks, Rod!

Ah lay up becomes today...I wrote my caption before Mary's came up. Thanks for the answer Mary!

Is it me, or does the lake look like it is going over a waterfall in the first pic?

It looks like all of the freighters could use a touch-up on their paint jobs; something to fix up during layover, maybe.

Alex, I puzzled over that first photo too. My guess is that there is a pier or some other concrete wall there, that waves have gone over and created some ice. But I'm not familiar with the area, so I don't really know.

At first glance, I thought these might be Danielle's photos until I read Mary's description of the day. Great pics Rod!!

Speaking of Danielle (Badkid, even though she's not! ;-), please get in contact with me as we're going to be UP for Carnival this year and wouldn't mind meeting up sometime that week.....

Looks like the Great Lakes Fleet has its layup work cut out for it....lots of paint!
Thanks, Rod, you can always be depended on for great ship photos. Have enjoyed your 'work' for years!

When do they usually start the new shipping season?

Can anyone help me with the correct pronunciation of Michipicoten? Is it mich-e-pick-o-ten or mich-e-pick-coat-ten or something else?

Have a friend whose husband worked on it and they pronounced it Mich-e-pe-cotton.

Sorry, Mary, should have included this info with my last post....Soo Locks open for the new season on March 25th, but I believe some ships continue to 'work' above and below the docks, weather permitting.

I had my final "fix" of freighters for this season on Saturday. As we
crossed the Blue Water Bridge, my husband and I spotted two
freighters heading for the St. Clair River. Then, while having a
picnic lunch at the Algonac State Park on the St. Clair River, weren't
we lucky enough to see another heading towards Lake St. Clair?
Still, I must admit that freighters always look better to me when
they are on Lake Superior.

A salute to the Captain and crew of the Anderson that November night. Not only were they the last to have contact, they had the courage to stay in harms way and look for the Fitz when others didn't. If they gave unit citations to Lakers, the Anderson would have one of the highest honors.
Thanks for the great photos.

Thanks Shirley for the help. Mich-e-pe-cotton it is. If you got it from someone who worked on the boat then that is a good authority.

You're welcome, John, just hope I'm right.
I join you, Paul, in saluting Capt. Cooper...a very brave and selfless man.

Alex, that sopt is where the mouth of the Dead River enters the lake.

Thanks Bob! I thought it was empty lock or something.

This is my favorite place to see the freighters close-up on Lake Superior ... wonderful photos!

The first photo looks to me like it was taken from the north side of the Marquette Upper Harbor dock ... the rest of the photos look like they were shot from the south side of the harbor dock. Seems to me that the cement in the foreground in the first photo might be the beginning of the breakwater and harbor light by Presque Isle.

Looking at the last 3 pictures, it's amazing how close to the shore they tie up. I wonder what the draft of these freighters are when loaded.

Alex:
what you are seeing is a concrete barrier along the road that is covered with snow and ice.

Thanks for clearing that up, David, it's obvious now.

Great pictures!