Super exciting news!!!!!

Stewart J. Cort doing it's thang

Found this in Akron, OH of all places. I was looking through their pennants and immediately yanked this one out!

Hey everyone. This is just a heads-up that the US Navy-owned and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution-operated research vessel Neil Armstrong will be departing Cape Cod tomorrow to make its first-ever trip into the Great Lakes—and will be headed all the way to Duluth (arriving 11/9). I'll post again when it's entered the StL Seaway and we know when it will be where. Hoping folks can get some photos along the way.

Do you like working for Interlake? What's a typical day for you look like? And what is your work rotation like, is it 60/30 or something else? I'm especially interested in engineering experience, but I'd like to hear from deck officers and other workers as well.

Thank you for your time!

Oldest boat on the Lakes pulls up to the fourth(?) oldest

After traveling an incredible 6,700 nautical miles to reach Duluth, Minnesota, the oceangoing ship Muntgracht departed for Lake Superior in some incredibly dense fog! Visibility was so limited that you could barely see the Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge, creating an unforgettable scene along the Duluth Ship Canal.

As the Muntgracht approached the bridge, the massive ocean ship slowly began emerging from the thick fog. The tugboat Kentucky was also there assisting with the departure, while a good crowd of ship watchers gathered along the canal despite the conditions.

One of the most interesting parts of this video is hearing the Muntgracht's automatic foghorn sounding every two minutes because of the extremely limited visibility. You could hear the ship approaching even when it was difficult to see through the fog!

You'll also hear actual marine radio communications between the Muntgracht's Captain and the Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge operator. Listen as they coordinate the bridge opening and discuss the foggy conditions and water current in the Duluth Ship Canal. Hearing these conversations gives you a fascinating look at the communication involved when an ocean ship navigates the Duluth Entry.

As the Muntgracht approaches the raised Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge, the Captain sounds a horn salute, and the bridge answers right back! Between the automatic foghorn, the horn exchange, and the ship gradually appearing through the fog, this was a memorable departure.

You'll also get some excellent close-up views of the Muntgracht's bow and other features of this impressive ocean vessel. Watch for a crewmember leaning over the railing and looking toward the crowd as the ship passes through the canal. The camera also turns toward the gathered spectators, showing how many people came out to watch.

After a journey of 6,700 nautical miles to Duluth, the Muntgracht's departure was quite a sight. The dense fog, tugboat assistance, marine radio conversations and powerful horn salute made this a particularly interesting evening of Great Lakes ship watching.

This video was created by Vibe with Mike for Duluth Ship Cam at Canal Park on Facebook and the Vibe with Mike YouTube channel, and posted to Reddit.

Recorded in Duluth, Minnesota, on Friday, October 23rd, 2026.

A project I have been working on in Blender for the last few months. I contacted the Detroit Historical Society and got scans of some of the Fitzgerald's blueprints and schematics, so it is fairly close to scale. I am working on a version that can be exported into Unreal Engine so one could walk around and explore, and work on the interior of the ship is underway.

The former McIntyre/Frank Purnell/Steelton/Pioneer. And I also learned there were name swaps between two ships regarding the names Frank Purnell and Steelton. The ship here being the original Frank Purnell. Currently rusting sway in South Chicago. I finally had a chance to snap a photo through the fence on my way back from Chicago yesterday!

The wife and I had dinner at the Detroit Renaissance Center and watched the Samuel De Champlain pass us on the Detroit River.

I know that SMET dock in Superior has closed but there have been rumors that one more shipload will be going out of there. Or is it the American century about two months ago that took the last load via vessel? Will there be any more ships taking coal that is left?

2026-10-24

* 2026-10-24

I am very very happy because I absolutely love the Ford Fleet! (if you can’t already tell)

So i know its not active, its currently docked and all that, but does anyone know where? Id like to see the legend

For example, on the Edmund Fitzgerald's last night, was the crew split between opposite ends of the ship with no way to safely travel between due to the heavy weather? If this is correct, how many crew would have been in the front and back 'islands' respectively?

I’ve heard rumours that the Mich is headed to the soo for scrap soon. Can anyone confirm?

You never know what you're going to see in Duluth! Today, October 22nd, around 10:25 AM CT, the Great Lakes tug Helen H arrived in Duluth towing a very unusual looking vessel/barge that had a lot of people watching and wondering what was going on!

The vessel/barge appeared to be carrying a large load of timber and looked somewhat unstable in the water. With northeast winds and waves on Lake Superior, the Helen H met up with it near McQuade Harbor, just up the North Shore from Duluth.

The Helen H is a hardworking Great Lakes tug used for towing and assisting other vessels. From what we could see, it appeared the tug may have been helping this unusual vessel/barge make it safely into Duluth, although the exact circumstances are still unclear.

The entire arrival was captured LIVE today on the Duluth Ship Cam at Canal Park via Vibe with Mike's YouTube channel! Plenty of Boat Friends were watching closely, trying to figure out exactly what was happening as this unusual tow made its way into port.

It's certainly not something you see every day on Lake Superior, and it shows why ship watching in Duluth is always full of surprises!

Does anyone know more about this unusual vessel/barge or what was happening out on Lake Superior today?