Boatnerd Discussion Forum

Another factor is the wind. It’s been blowing with ships currently anchored in southern Lake Huron and taking the northern route on Superior. Why rush out of layup just to get forced to anchor up? Might as well stay in port a couple extra days.

A lot of shipyard work and maintenance gets done this time of year and big projects take time. Sometimes the end dates stretch out past the opening of the season which may contribute to the slow start. Normally the locks wouldn’t even open till tomorrow.

Also, the John G. Munson has yet to have their AIS turned on as well so far as they are still laid up in Toledo. The Great Republic will sometimes have their AIS on then it goes off and out. They are still laid up in Toledo also with the Munson, Anderson and Clarke. In talking about both the Gott and Speer being the first two out usually from GLF, another one of their ships not out yet is the Presque Isle. The Presque Isle like the Gott and Speer usually sails early and they sometimes are one of the first ones out running for the GLF. Also, in regards to a few ships “not yet sailing so far in 2025, right now there are only 3 of the 1,000 footers so far sailing!” The Gott, along with the American Century and now the Indiana Harbor. The Mesabi Miner I noticed today has finally turned on their AIS. They are still laid up at Sturgeon Bay for now. Even the Block and the Sykes have yet to sail so far and the Block has been known to be one of the first ones out each year and season. It will surely be a very interesting year and season on the water that’s for certain!

Yes, the rate at which the lake fleets are coming is concerning. Like you said or inferred, up until recently, the lakeboats were moving big time quick and early. I think the lakes industry is going suffer greatly for the next while and I suspect several boats will not "even turn a screw" this year.

I know it’s early in the shipping season but it’s very uncommon to not see most of uss/Great Lakes out sailing. Just last year the gott and Speer were the first ships to open the soo locks and for many years they were normally the first ships out especially when the blough was sailing because it was good in the ice. This year only the gott is out so far. The Speer hasn’t even turned on its ais yet. The Clarke and Anderson are not expected to sail at all this season. Now with the 2 Cleveland cliffs plants temporarily shut down on the iron range that will really effect uss/Great Lakes fleet as they were hauling a lot of iron ore for cliffs to there steel plants.