Boatnerd Discussion Forum

If not for saltwater vessels, tankers and tugs, St. Clair River would be quiet.

As of 8 P.M. on October 19 in checking out the AIS map on boatnerd, it appears that it is slow and quiet at several areas and places right now! The Soo is very slow and quiet with only 3 ships there now and I think maybe 2 more were down earlier today up there as far as the Evans Spirit and the Rodopi? In Lake Superior, I’m only seeing 4 of the 1,000 footers on the move with the Gott headed down to Gary. A little bit more in the way of traffic on both Lake Michigan and in Lake Huron in the far northern part. The St. Clair and Detroit Rivers are both very slow right now with not much traffic there. On Lake Erie, there is a few vessels at the Western End and quite a few around Ashtabula and Erie, Pennsylvania areas. At the Welland Canal, there seems to be some traffic there for right now that is going through there. As far as ports go, Hamilton still continues to see its share of ship traffic for now at least. Thunder Bay has only 4 ships up there that I’m aware of for now at least. Duluth-Superior has a few vessels up there right now as does Toledo as they too have a few vessels in port also. Overall, I’d say IMO anyway that it’s quiet and slow for now!

Speaking of quiet, this board is very quiet to years past. Use to see multiple posts all day long. Now not so much. Some days no posts at all. Very sad.

In checking the AIS map, it appears that traffic again is on the slow and light side today at the Soo. So far, I have only seen four vessels going through there today three of them down and one up. Up on Lake Superior it is slower yet with only the Edwin H. Gott and Paul R. Tregurtha so far on the move. Thunder Bay still has a full and packed house of vessels up there. There is lots of traffic for now on Lake Huron and the St. Clair River.

Thanks for that information GreatLaker as I sort of figured it might have been related to low water levels as I earlier suggested in my previous post.

Indiana Harbor is anchored due to low water in the Rock Cut driven by 2 days of NW wind.

As of 6:30 p.m. on October 15, the St. Clair River is only showing two vessels upbound at least in daylight transit. The CSL Assiniboine and the Edwin H. Gott. Two more vessels are upbound in Lake St. Clair I’m seeing both the Manitowoc and the Jutlandia Swan yet both will be up the river well after dark this evening! At the Soo, slow going up there as well with quite a few vessels at anchor. The Lee A. Tregurtha locked up earlier today and now are at anchor off of Whitefish Point in Whitefish Bay. Both the Robert S. Pierson and also the H. Lee White are at anchor in Goulais Bay. Farther down the St. Marys River though, the Indiana Harbor still remains at anchor however, traffic for now does seem to be okay and moving for now. I don’t know what the reasons are for the Indiana Harbor then to be at anchor if it’s weather related or a drop perhaps in the water levels?

As of 1:15 p.m. on October 15, the Soo appears quiet yet again today with only the Lee A. Tregurtha locking up now and the Philip R. Clarke and Hon. James L. Oberstar both headed downbound. There are two vessels that are at anchor up in Goulais Bay and the Indiana Harbor is anchored in the lower St. Marys River for some reason? The American Mariner is also downbound about out at Detour right now. That’s all I’m seeing today for the Soo. As for the Detroit and St. Clair Rivers, it too seems quiet on both rivers with a small bit of vessel traffic but not too heavy right now.

The St. Clair River today, October 14 had at least I count five vessels that I’m aware of I would’ve seen maybe if I had gone out there today! I agree with you both you guys as indeed it’s very odd and strange this year regarding the slowdown IMO at least of vessel traffic. Even more odd and strange, in 2023 I saw 8 of the 1,000 footers all on the St. Clair River. So far in 2024, only one of them I have seen so far the Paul R. Tregurtha! Definitely a different year and season IMO anyway than it was in 2023 for sure.

The Soo Was very busy Sunday. Anderson, Munson, Maumee, Dool, Algoma Guardian, Le Champlain, Alpena and others I am probably forgetting

I commented recently on the lack of traffic. One of the main arteries, the St. Clair river has been ship- free these last 3 days!
Same thing at the Soo! Lots of movements West of Mackinac in and out of and onLake Michigan. Same on the East end; from the Welland to Montreal. Strange!!