Boatnerd Discussion Forum

badger wrote: April 10, 2026, 8:59 pm They were never laid up in sarnia, it was point edward. Exmouth street divides point edward from sarnia.

I hate to do this but I have to. The North Slip is owned and operated by the City of Sarnia. I believe the centre line of Exmouth St. all the way to the BridgeView Marina entrance is the boundary for Sarnia and Point Edward. The ships this winter were laid up in Sarnia.

badger wrote: April 10, 2026, 8:59 pm They were never laid up in sarnia, it was point edward. Exmouth street divides point edward from sarnia.

That's kind of splitting hairs to most folk. That's like trying to differentiate between Port Huron and Fort Gratiot.

They were never laid up in sarnia, it was point edward. Exmouth street divides point edward from sarnia.

As of 3:25 pm ET on April 10, the Kaministiqua has departed from their lay up berth in Sarnia, Ontario and they are downbound on the St. Clair River now. There is no destination posted at this time though.

Painting has begun on the stack of the Pierson. Black paint is on, should be getting the red and white stripes and Algoma logo soon.

Perhaps lower lakes should of practice what the flag on their vessels said "don't give up the ship"

I agree totally as I too don’t believe the Saginaw, Michpicoten and the Valo will be around too much longer at their ages as I don’t see a bright future for any of them now that Algoma has taken over as owners of them. Surely they have enough ships & vessels now in their fleet that are more than capable of hauling cargoes for Algoma and modern, updated along with newer vessels as well. Sadly, those three ships will more than likely be on a tow line at some point heading to the torch at IMS in Port Colborne someday! They’ve served their time in their careers and their previous owners got everything they wanted out of those three vessels and then some. I will miss them someday when they are cut down and scrapped but glad I was able to see and photograph them all in their glory and good ‘ole days of shipping then.

In my totally uninformed mind, I bet it might be possible the Pierson sees some use with Algoma. Saginaw I just don't see it. 73 years old is old for Algoma

Nothing new on the Pierson or Saginaw that's I've seen. I suspect neither will be sailing for Algoma but you never know.

Anything new as far as with the Saginaw & Pierson? I take it that neither has received or gotten the Algoma stack logos applied to them as yet? Any information & updates are very much appreciated TIA.

Kaministiqua has Algoma stack logos as of today, 3/29.

As of March 22 the Kaministiqua had the lower lakes towing painted out under the bow, stack logos still in place.

To Jamie and all boatnerds, was out in Port Huron today photographing the Winter Lay Up fleet. Yes indeed, Saginaw has had their LLT Stack logos now removed from its smokestack. Also noticed that the Robert S. Pierson also has had their LLT stack logos removed from their stack as well. I don’t know just when that took place but, it had to be recently! So far, nothing new yet is going on with the Kaministiqua as far as any changes. Below the names of the Saginaw, Pierson & Kaministiqua it still has “Lower Lakes Towing” for now at least! No signs yet of anything related to or with Algoma but I’m sure in time that will change. If any of them are renamed this year, I wonder then IF they may have A Christening ceremony held in Sarnia at some point maybe then? Sort of like in 2000 when USS/GLF sold 3 of their ships then to GRN the Myron C. Taylor, Calcite II & George A. Sloan. Remember, those three then were repainted in Gray and each one was renamed in Sarnia and they were all Re-Christened there as well. So, we’ll see then what happens next!

Denny wrote: March 19, 2026, 6:37 am Thanks Jamie for the update on the Saginaw Stack change. Have they done anything yet as far as removing or changing the stack logos on the Pierson or the Kam yet? I see the Innovator arrived in Sarnia this morning, March 19 at the Sidney Smith Dock in what I would assume is lay up but soon I’m sure they’ll be back out again at some point. Also, the Harvest Spirit arrived at the Grain Elevator to become Sarnia’s first official grain boat to load for the 2026 season. I don’t recall in past years when the ships would begin to load out of the Grain Elevator however, this though seems rather a bit soon and early for a ship to load at the Grain Elevator isn’t it? Thanks for the updates.

Only the Saginaw's stack has been altered. The Innovator has a ton of lines out but I assume that is to keep her from being pulled off the Sydney Smith dock by passing ships. Otherwise she does not appear to be in layup, just perhaps getting some quick repairs completed. The Harvest Spirit is really early. I am wondering if she is loading early so she can be the first official vessel through the Welland Canal.

Thanks Jamie for the update on the Saginaw Stack change. Have they done anything yet as far as removing or changing the stack logos on the Pierson or the Kam yet? I see the Innovator arrived in Sarnia this morning, March 19 at the Sidney Smith Dock in what I would assume is lay up but soon I’m sure they’ll be back out again at some point. Also, the Harvest Spirit arrived at the Grain Elevator to become Sarnia’s first official grain boat to load for the 2026 season. I don’t recall in past years when the ships would begin to load out of the Grain Elevator however, this though seems rather a bit soon and early for a ship to load at the Grain Elevator isn’t it? Thanks for the updates.

As of Wednesday March 18, 2026, the Saginaw stack markings have been removed. No work visibly occurring on either the Saginaw or Robert S. Pierson. Lots of work happening on the Kam.

Doesn't appear to be a wonderful life.

Potter finally got the Bailey Building and Loan.

algowest wrote: March 8, 2026, 9:52 am Regarding company logos, names and paint. I believe ships will be renamed, and new bear roundels installed on the funnel. Hulls won't be repainted until scheduled drydocking.

Manitoulin is in dry dock right now, be curious to see if she comes out blue.

When she was oned by llt algoma wasn't going to give an ore cargo to LLT where else could she unload except dofasco in hamilton, now that algoma owns her, we will see