Boatnerd Discussion Forum

As of this morning she's in the River Raisin. Presumably unloading.

Denny, as of 4:40\16:40 this afternoon, she's in the Monroe anchorage on Lake Erie.

Finally finished and left, according to a mate that posts on tiktok

Are they still at DTE in St. Clair unloading? They at first arrived there about October 23, had a “sticky” coal cargo that took a very long time to try and unload. Then, they briefly left the dock only to anchor then and to allow the Paul R. Tregurtha to arrive and unload. The PRT departed several days ago now and the McCarthy arrived back at St. Clair from Anchorage then about October 31. When I last checked then on Marine Traffic a day or two ago now, they still showed them there. Now, I can’t get into Marine Traffic so far this morning to find out anything. Can someone please 🙏 provide any type of updates, information and answers as far as What’s going on? Thank You.

What is sticky coal and how is it delt with?

The Walter J. McCarthy Jr. is still unloading its “sticky” coal at the DTE Plant in St. Clair after arriving there to unload on October 23. They at one point briefly departed the dock only to anchor in the Recors Anchorage to allow for the Paul R. Tregurtha to arrive and unload. The McCarthy then returned to the DTE Dock and plant in St. Clair where they arrived on October 31 in the early morning to try and finish their unload. Can someone please though try to explain to us just what “sticky” coal is and how it’s gets to be that way? I’d think it must be a real job and chore then to try and unload that type of coal cargo then. As one boatnerd had mentioned earlier in his comments and post “I’m sure this delay has got to be costing ASC and other customers and businesses huge dollars for the down time and the delay it’s taking to get the coal unloaded from the McCarthy then!” Just my two cents only is all on this.

As of 3:25 pm on October 31, it appears the Paul R. Tregurtha departed from the Recors Anchorage below the St. Clair Power Plant. They are presently headed upbound and are near Stag Island near Marysville as I type this now at 3:30 pm on October 31. At first I thought the PRT had a split load for both the St. Clair & Monroe Power Plants. Now it would seem they must have then unloaded everything at DTE in St. Clair. The McCarthy is still at DTE in St. Clair unloading their coal cargo. I don’t know if they are unloading the whole load at St. Clair or if they have a split for St. Clair & Monroe then?

The McCarthy is back unloading at DTE in St. Clair as of 12:20 pm while the Paul R. Tregurtha has moved into the Recors Anchorage to allow McCarthy Jr. to finish up their unload. I’m wondering if the PRT has the same issues as far as “sticky coal?” They arrived at St. Clair yesterday morning just after 5 AM and they departed today between 5-6 AM and anchoring at the Recors Anchor area just below the Power Plant.

Of course there is a “ hurry” to get unloaded and moving again. This type of delay costs the company huge losses in terms of dollars. It has nothing to do with “ less demand” for coal.

From Marine Traffic, they left DTE Plant at St. Clair early this morning and then went into the Recors Anchorage to allow Paul R. Tregurtha to dock and unload their cargo of coal. At last check several hours ago, McCarthy was in the Recors Anchorage while the Tregurtha was docked at DTE in St. Clair and was unloading then. Hope that this information helps. Also and BTW, this type of question and topic has been asked before! I recall I think the replies were “With coal, the demand for it and the industry slowly fading away, there is no IMO I think, rush or hurry to deliver that cargo and unload it from the McCarthy like there used to be then.” Granted and Yes sticky coal can be a problem with unloading and I’ve seen and heard it happen many times when they unload at DTE in St. Clair. However, it is not uncommon to see a load take more than 12-18 hours to unload either. So again, with the demand for coal not as great and high as it used to be and the industry in general slowly fading away there’s no immediate rush or hurry to deliver & discharge. Hope that my information is correct on all of this information.

Dealing with sticky coal.

Sticky coal

Does anyone know why the Walter J, McCarthy has been tied up at DTE St Clair for 6 days now? Yesterday they had the tug WEST WIND and a crane barge tied up alongside.