Boatnerd Discussion Forum

To Steamboater and others, tracking the ship movement on AIS today and it’s looking like it’s a bit slow right now in a few places. Not much traffic up on Lake Superior as I’m only seeing four ships so far. The Soo is seeing a little bit of activity right now. The St. Clair River is slow today as I’ve figured 4 or 5 ships so far. There may be a few more yet to come through but I don’t think they will make it on the river before dark? On Lake Erie, the traffic looks very light right now and the Welland Canal so far I see is just the John D. Leitch there for now. Two ports that are still busy and bustling with activity are Thunder Bay and Hamilton both of which continue to see a large volume and surge in vessel traffic along with huge backups as the ships some of which are at anchor waiting to load. In more than 30 years of following the ships and taking photographs of them, I don’t recall a time in where I’ve seen it this slow this late into the season? I realize that the grain trade always picks up this time of year with the Fall Grain Rush and exports and one can just see that by checking out the traffic up in Thunder Bay right now and all the ships up there. I just would have thought one might see more traffic on the St. Clair River and ports on Lake Erie than what I am seeing presently. Finally, I still think it was much busier earlier this year back at Spring and in the Summer then it is now! Maybe I’m wrong but that’s my observation of it and my opinion on it anyway.

A little bit better today for the ship traffic on the St. Clair River but now it’s slowed down yet again! Earlier today I don’t know exactly how many went through as early as say about 9 A.M. or later? The American Century came on down early this morning for DTE at St. Clair with a split load for their and Monroe. Later, American Mariner along with the Sam Laud both came down. Two salties were up the BBC Xingang for Sarnia and the Verila for Goderich and I think the tug Victory and barge Maumee went through up as well. Hope I didn’t miss anything on my reporting from 9 A.M. to the present time? So far I think that’s been it as far as traffic moving on the St. Clair River. I’m seeing a lot of traffic on Lake Superior all going up for loads and not too many coming down. Lake Erie also has quite a bit of traffic there as well today. To Steamboater, you’re correct as there’s still a big backlog of vessels up in Thunder Bay right now either in port or at anchor. They don’t seem to be leaving from Thunder Bay in bunches just a few at a time. There’s been 3 salties that have left in the past 24 or so hours but, they won’t be down at the Soo until well after dark this evening. Indeed, it will be very interesting if we see a freeze this winter or not? Another thing that is making a huge difference for me at least on my river trip adventures now! Shorter days and less daylight now as I usually arrive at the river on my adventures between about 10-11 A.M. and cannot stay now past 6 P.M. with it getting dark by 7 P.M. as it takes me about an hour to drive to and from the river and NO I don’t drive at night nor do I have any experience with night driving period. So, it is what it is as far as how many trips to the river I can make for this year and what ships I see. One thing is for certain and I’ve learned many times, it’s best not too get worked up or excited about seeing certain ships such as any of the 1,000 footers or the Paul R. Tregurtha or PRT which is my favorite! Again I say, it is what is as far as what I see or don’t see this year as there’s always next year then as far as seeing the ones that I miss this year! Take care you all.

Interesting that you opened up the grain trade...
Back in the decades of the ‘60’s, ‘70’s, 80’s and onwards, the Fall month’s always saw a marked upswing as the demand for grain cargos rose prior to freeze-up. In my region I can remember the Welland Canal being almost clogged with downbounds...either lakers for Montreal to drop cargos for transshipment to salties for overseas or salties going direct to the ocean.
It’s Monday morning and ais round Thunder Bay shows 6-8 vessels in the actual port and another 6-10 at anchor outside. Many appear to be salties...like FedNav or Polsteam.
Superior and Duluth look quite busy. Out on Superior there looks to be about a dozen ships in movement.
Most of the action appears to be on upper L Huron into Superior and over into L. Michigan.
As we both have said, the St.Clair seems under travelled.
Here’s another influence...Climate change. Will there be a freeze-up? That opens up a whole new game, doesn’t it.
Smooth seas, everyone!

In response to Steamboater and your comments, Yes sir as you are absolutely correct about traffic being slow as you said both the web cams at times anyway not always and the AIS proves just that! Take a look at AIS maps along the St. Clair River for October 5. Not seeing too much traffic on the move that’s for certain. The Spruceglen is headed down the river now and the saltie Polsteam Dabie is also headed down and should make it down into the river just before evening and dark. The Walter J. McCarthy Jr. has stopped in Detroit to fuel and they might make it up just before evening and dark. Those are the only three ships I am seeing on the move at least before it gets too dark as most anything else will be at about dark or later then this evening. Definitely a slow day today out on the St. Clair River that’s for sure. I agree too Steamboater as like you suggested the economy could be a reason for the lack of ship traffic lately in certain places. I seem to recall when I checked out the web cams this Spring, it appeared then that the shipping was busier at that time then it is at the present. I would have thought differently since we are in the fall season, one would think traffic would be busier especially with the grain trade which I’m seeing a surge of right now. We’ll have to wait and see what happens then.

Im seeing the same thing Denny. I’m on the north shore of Lake Ontario. On ais; the majority of traffic here seems to be salties to and from Montreal in the grain trade from Thunder Bay to Europe. Also a few lakers with grain. Some lakers with ore and other loads in and out of St. Lawrence river industries. But, traffic is down.
Everyday I look at the cams 3-4 times. This week it has really jumped out at me....the lack of vessel traffic.I especially enjoy the Port Huron section. This week there have been 24 hour periods with no vessels in view. The ais map backs this observation. Nothing for hours and hours on the St. Clair river. The Soo is another of my favorite sites. The locks and the river from Detour on up have been empty for hours and hours...no traffic!
The economy has to be driving this in some way. The shipping companies can only afford to put the ships where there are guaranteed needs for loads to be delivered or loads to be picked up.

Been watching and tracking ship movement all day long today on the AIS maps. From what I’m seeing it appears that most of the action and activity is in Lake Superior and maybe in Lake Michigan and Lake Huron with a few of the ships in Lake Erie. My point is, I’m not seeing much in the way of ship traffic through the ditch or Welland Canal headed up nor am I seeing much expected traffic on the St. Clair River for Friday, October 4. I’m seeing a backlog of ship traffic in both Thunder Bay and Hamilton yet not too many of them departing so far. Even the Soo today it looked like appeared to have a rare slow day for traffic! Where then is all of the ship traffic been hiding and also hanging out lately and also, is it just me or are things perhaps starting to slow down just a tad little bit? I am sure that I am most likely wrong on my assumption but it just seems a bit odd that from the AIS maps for now then at least, it seems a bit slow for movement and traffic! Just my two cents, thoughts and opinions only on this.