Spring Shipping on the Great Lakes

[captrigney]

Time Lapse video of the Wilfred Sykes departing Sturgeon Bay, WI for the beginning of the 2014 sailing season.

SS Wilfred Sykes Dept Sturgeon Bay,WI - 15 March 2014 - YouTube

 

[loafs and fishes]

Nice!

 

[pilothouse king]

That's great. Thanks for sharing. It took me a minute to realize all those "ants" on the ice were people and cars. Looked windy too.

 

[Capt Kangeroo]

Neat video!, the tugs scurrying all about and pushing the freighter are just too cute. Note also, just as the freighter is clearing the Michigan street bridge, there are boys skating on the ice in the canal. I am surprised however that the freighter is starting a run and wonder where he is going, last I saw/heard Huron was still extensively frozen over.

 

[captrigney]

I am surprised however that the freighter is starting a run and wonder where he is going, last I saw/heard Huron was still extensively frozen over.

The Sykes runs exclusively on Lake Michigan. Usually from Escanaba to Indiana Harbor carying iron ore. Ice is indeed an issue for commercial shipping on the lakes but the customers need the raw materials so the season is underway. The Soo locks open the 25th. Lake Superior has ice up to 4 feet thick in places such as Whitefish Bay and Duluth. Anyone interested in following lake shipping can follow the Boatnerd news blog at Great Lakes and Seaway Shipping Daily News