Sykes to Lake Superior

[hugh3]

Back in the day I was on a boat that loaded coal in Toledo took it to South Chicago and unloaded, moved further down the river and loaded coal for Milwaukee

[Guest]

I believe the Sykes often calls on South Chicago for coal. If taken to Indiana Harbor that would be a very short voyage.

Yes that would be, thank you

[Guest]

I believe the Sykes often calls on South Chicago for coal. If taken to Indiana Harbor that would be a very short voyage.

[Guest]

I was aboard the Sykes one year and they made 149 loads and never went under the Big Mac.

149 loads, wow...as of right now, unofficially I have her at 71 loads, I am sure I have missed a couple, give or take.. I do count a load into I H or B H and then she stops at (?) Grand Haven, with a load out of B H or I H, then goes north for stone. (when she stops at two different stone yards, for partials, I count both as one load. in my mind it is going to one spot, usually. thats a lot of loads.

Remember also there would be pellet loads out of Escanaba.

[Guest]

I was aboard the Sykes one year and they made 149 loads and never went under the Big Mac.

149 loads, wow......as of right now, unofficially I have her at 71 loads, I am sure I have missed a couple, give or take.... I do count a load into I H or B H and then she stops at (?) Grand Haven, with a load out of B H or I H, then goes north for stone. (when she stops at two different stone yards, for partials, I count both as one load. in my mind it is going to one spot, usually. thats a lot of loads.

[Al]

I was aboard the Sykes one year and they made 149 loads and never went under the Big Mac.

[BigRiver]

Trip has been cancelled.

[garbear]

Just checked the Duluth Shipping News schedule and the Sykes no longer shows up on it.

[Guest]

Looks like she's going to cedarville stone for Duluth? Fuel? Nothin has changed on Duluth shipping news since original post except 6 hours latter then first post a stone load will really throw times off

When Block goes to duluth , she takes stone, I have noticed.

[Guest]

Looks like she's going to cedarville stone for Duluth? Fuel? Nothin has changed on Duluth shipping news since original post except 6 hours latter then first post a stone load will really throw times off

[Guest]

According to my old Lake Log Chips files, the Wilfred Sykes loaded taconite at Two Harbors on January 8, 1991.

As a side note to the Wilfred Sykes unloading at the Marine City Stone dock, the book "Twilight of the Great Lakes Steamer" has a picture of the vessel just after its departure from that location on May 28, 2005. I remember this passage because the Sykes continued upbound past downtown to make a 180-degree turn just north of Marine City beach before heading downriver.

The same book has another picture that shows the vessel downbound at Port Huron on December 30, 2006. I believe that was the last time the steamer was down to the lower lakes. If memory serves me correctly, this load was destined for Lorain.

[Dusty]

Last time i remember her in two harbors was early 80's when I was 10 or so her and ryerson were freqent visitors I'm sure she came in early 90's just missed them I'll be down there this time for sure

[Don_Detloff]

Wilfred Sykes at Marine City - May 28, 2005.

Don Detloff
Fair Haven, MI

[Guest]

Wilfred Sykes was down bound in the St. Clair River December 30, 2006. It was converted to a self-unloader at Fraser Shipyard, Superior, Wisc. in 1975.

[Old wiper]

Denny, you are correct. I believe Sykes' last trip to the St. Clair River region was during the last week of May 2005. The vessel brought stone from Calcite to Marine City then loaded coke breeze at Zug Island on May 28 for Indiana Harbor.

I checked my notes again, and I missed the St Marys trip in 2012. It did load mill scale at Essar on June 13, 2012 for Burns Harbor. I believe this was its last trip to that region, but could be proven wrong again.

It also appears that the vessel loaded in Two Harbors as late as October 1993. I don't know if this was its last load from there.

[Denny]

I recall seeing her upbound on the St. Clair River loaded back in late May 2005 sorry I cannot recall the date but she was definitely loaded I can assure of that one! Not sure where she was headed to at the time but I think she may have been coming up from Detroit and maybe headed to Indiana Harbor? So the mute point here is that at least up to 2005 anyway she was making runs down here in the Detroit area.

[Guest]

Why are these boats making these unusual trips. is there a shortage of Canadian boats? Not enough trade for US boats? A breakdown in pellet production at some big producer? Just seems like a lot of boats making unusual trips.

The sale of pellets to offshore locations and Canadian boats focused on a strong grain export is the cause.

[Duluth Guest]

So it sounds as though she's been to Superior, Duluth, Marquette and the Soo but has she ever visited Two Harbors?

[Tugboathunter]

I distinctly remember that the Sykes loaded mill scale at the Essar Export Dock a single time in 2012. I think this is what Roger was referring to.

[johnfrombrighton]

Why are these boats making these unusual trips. is there a shortage of Canadian boats? Not enough trade for US boats? A breakdown in pellet production at some big producer? Just seems like a lot of boats making unusual trips.