Sailings March 2025

[Denny]

As of 7:45 p.m. on March 24, the Walter J. McCarthy Jr. departed earlier today from their layup in Superior and is currently enroute now headed up to Two Harbors to load next. Also, the Edgar B. Speer now has their AIS turned on as they are still in layup in Erie, Pennsylvania. Finally, entering the Seaway today from layup in Montreal is the Algoma Strongfield. That is all of the fit out news and information I have at this time. Hope that this helps out.

[Mn bob]

The Kaye e barker has left layup in Erie and is headed to Marquette.

[Denny]

Thanks for that update ashland69 as I missed their departure today then from Ashtabula. There’s been quite a bit of movements and fit-outs by vessel over the past few days mostly Canadian vessels. I’ve already forgotten just who all has sailed in the past day or so as I’ll need a day or two in order to get caught up again on all of the recent sailings and the fit-out information as well. Thanks for spotting “The Big Indy’s departure today from Ashtabula and their lay-up my friend!” Keep up the reporting when you can my friend and I’ll try and do my best as well whenever I can do so that is.

[ashland69]

Indiana Harbour has left its lay-up dock in Ashtabula and is upbound on Lake Erie heading north.

[Denny]

More Sailings to report boatnerds! As of 10 PM on March 21 both the G3 Marquis and the CSL Laurentien have respectively departed from Hamilton and their respective Winter Lay-Up berths and docks. The CSL Laurentien is headed to Sandusky to load. It appears and looks as if the G3 Marquis could be the first upbound vessel at least at Lock 3 of the Welland Canal when it opens to traffic on Saturday, March 22 at 8 AM. If that is true, then the G3 Marquis will probably receive the Top Hat 🎩 award then for first vessel then at Lock 3 of the Welland Canal. As of 10 PM on March 21 they are nearing the entrance now to the Welland Canal off Port Weller.

[Denny]

As of 7:45 p.m. on March 21, the G3 Marquis has begun its fit-out from Hamilton and they are now underway headed out of Hamilton right now. They could possibly then be the first upbound vessel maybe at the Welland Canal along with Lock 3 and with that, also getting the Annual “Top Hat Award for first ship at Lock 3 of the Welland Canal!” Also in Hamilton the CSL Niagara has their AIS updated to Superior BNSF #5 and due there on 3/27/25 at 1600 hours to load ore pellets. The Algoma Conveyor also has their AIS updated as well. They are still in lay-up in Hamilton however, I assume they are loading a grain cargo then from Hamilton? Their AIS now shows Quebec City with an ETA of 3/24/25. That is all that I am seeing for fit-outs at this time.

[Denny]

As of 5:30 p.m. on March 21, the Edwin H. Gott has departed from their Winter Lay-Up berth and Dock in Toledo, Ohio and they are now out sailing ford the 2025 season! Their AIS is showing Two Harbors as their next destination and Port of Call. With the Gott's departure today from Toledo this now leaves the following "active" vessels still in Winter Lay-Up at Toledo. American Spirit, Great Republic, American Courage, John G. Munson along with the Arthur M. Anderson and the Philip R. Clarke. To my knowledge from reading comments on here earlier this year, both the Anderson and Clarke were not expected to be out sailing this season! Unless of course the plans have been altered or changed? If I have forgotten or missed anyone that is laid-up in Toledo still, I regretfully and deeply apologize for that oversight and error! I have only listed "active" vessels in lay-up in Toledo ones in long-term such as the American Valor now known as the Valo I have not included in my list due to their "long-term lay-up status!" That is all the news and the Fit-Out information that I have at this time.

[Denny]

As of 11:15 a.m. on March 21 the Hon. James L. Oberstar now has their AIS on and has appeared on the boatnerd AIS map. All active vessels that were laid up in Duluth-Superior this Winter now have appeared on the boatnerd AIS map and each having their AIS on as well.

[Denny]

As of 10:20 A.M. on March 21, the American Spirit laid up in Toledo now has their AIS updated and lists Superior BNSF #5 on 3/25/25 at 0500 as their next port of call and destination. The Algoma Bear departed their layup in Sarnia late last night on March 20. They arrived at the Shell Oil Fuel Dock to fuel then just after midnight on March 21. They are now up in Lake Huron and their AIS is showing a Two Harbors destination. So far as of this report, that is all the fit out news and information I have at this time. A reminder to boatnerds that both the Seaway and Welland Canal open to traffic then for tomorrow Saturday, March 22, 2025 at 8 AM. Also, you could begin to see ships starting to move out from Duluth-Superior either later today but more likely tomorrow with the American Century expected to load coal tomorrow at the MERC Coal Terminal in Superior. I would also watch for any departures from Hamilton along with Montreal with both the Welland Canal and Seaway set for opening tomorrow morning on March 22. Finally watch for the Gott along with American Spirit to depart from Toledo anytime as well!

[Denny]

As of 1 A.M. on March 21 the Algoma Sault arrived back in Port Colborne and is upbound for Sandusky to load. Presently they are moored in Port Colborne having tied up at Lock 8 Northwest Wall at 2117 on March 20 from the Seaway’s website. The Captain Henry Jackman departed from their layup in Sarnia during the early evening of March 20 and they are now heading up to Thunder Bay, Ontario to load grain. Lastly, the Algoma Bear departed Sarnia and their Winter Layup during the evening of March 20. They arrived to fuel at the Shell Oil Fuel Dock just after midnight on March 21. This now leaves the Saginaw, Robert S. Pierson, Manitoulin and Algoma Intrepid all as the last remaining vessels from Sarnia’s Winter fleet. The two Casino Boats Majestic Star and Majestic Star II also both remain in Sarnia as well. That’s it for now.

[Denny]

As of 7:45 pm on March 20, an update and correction on the Algoma Sault as I’m now seeing them downbound and NOT upbound in the Welland Canal. Their AIS still shows Sandusky however, on the boatnerd AIS map it appears they are headed down the Canal.

[Denny]

As of 7:30 p.m. on March 20, two Algoma vessels have now departed from their Winter Lay-Up berths and are now out sailing. The most recent two being the Algoma Sault for Sandusky and the Captain Henry Jackman which departed from Sarnia for Thunder Bay to load grain. Algoma Sault departed from Port Colborne and went up through Lock 8 so, I don’t know if they got the Annual Top Hat 🎩 Award for first vessel of the season then at Lock 8 in Port Colborne this year or not? In 2024, the Algoma Conveyor was the first ship at Lock 8 in Port Colborne. Either the Algoma Sault or Algoma Niagara was the first ship at Lock 3 in 2024 headed up at that time. So far that is all I have to report on at this time.

[Denny]

Both the CSL Laurentien and Algoma Sault both have updated their AIS with each ship listing and showing Sandusky as their next destination to load. Also, several vessels now have started to pop up on the AIS Boatnerd Map whereas before they did not. The ones that have begun to appear are the Lee A. Tregurtha and John J. Boland both of which are laid up in Superior at Fraser Shipyard. Kaye E. Barker also just popped up today on AIS as well and they are still in layup yet in Erie, Pennsylvania. As of 4:30 p.m. on March 20th the Herbert C. Jackson is upbound from Sandusky and headed up to Detroit (Ecorse) to unload at the Rouge Shortcut Canal Coal Dock there. The Jackson also became Sandusky’s first vessel arrival as well for the 2025 shipping season.

[Denny]

Not sure where they will be loading for but, I suppose that most of those loads by VanEnkevort will most likely be headed to Toledo and either to the Ironville Dock or to the Torco Dock in Toledo. If I recall correctly, VTB fleet hauled and carried quite a bit of ore pellets to Toledo last season and I would expect VTB to be doing the same this year. Also and it should not come to a surprise to anyone that is IF any of the VanEnkevorts are first at the Soo Locks on March 21, they have done this before as far as first boat at the Soo Locks in the past. Not often have they been the first one however, they’ve been known to do it a handful of times then!

[ashland69]

Yup just saw that just now as well ashland69 on the boatnerd AIS map. I wonder though just how many vessels then plan to sail this Friday as if I’m correct, isn’t there a superstition about ships fitting out of layup and then sailing on a Friday then? Does it bring any type of bad luck or mid-fortune then to any ships? Thanks in advance for any information you may have on any of this.

Denny, I believe that superstition about sailing on Fridays was limited to a brand new ship, fresh off the building blocks. I may be wrong, though. After all, ships sail from ports all around the world on Fridays without any issue. On a personal note, I find most "superstitious events" are not the work of some spirit or ghost or curse, but rather, by some unconscious or unanticipated "goof up" and "slip up" by some tired, overworked, unthinking or indifferent individual, or, because of some unknown or overlooked structural issue that clashes with high winds, high waves, etc. Something fails or someone does something wrong or incorrect and problems cascade, finally coming to a head, resulting in destruction and death.

[Andy]

I find it interesting that VanEnkevort Tug & Barge could have the first three vessels through the Soo (although Dirk seems to have paused in lower Lake Huron as of Wednesday evening). I sometimes forget about the significance of this fleet, but those three barges will likely load a combined 110,000 tons of taconite . . . not too shabby!

[Denny]

Yup just saw that just now as well ashland69 on the boatnerd AIS map. I wonder though just how many vessels then plan to sail this Friday as if I’m correct, isn’t there a superstition about ships fitting out of layup and then sailing on a Friday then? Does it bring any type of bad luck or mid-fortune then to any ships? Thanks in advance for any information you may have on any of this.

[ashland69]

Just noticed Edwin Gott's AIS says Two Harbours, with a Mar 23 arrival date. Laid up in Toledo.

[ashland69]

Herbert C. Jackson leaving Ecorse lay-up 4PM Mar. 19, apparently downbound.

[ashland69]

Sorry folks, forgot the Dirk Van Enkevort with the Michigan Trader, upbound at Detroit for Duluth from Toledo, mid-day Mar. 19. Sailing between the Clyde and the Joyce. So, that's two boats heading for Duluth and one to Marquette.