Record tonnage through the Soo??

[Denny]

As of 3:40 p.m. on July 7, they are down bound still above the Locks and by the West End Pier and awaiting a turn back from the saltwater vessel Federal Beaufort which is currently downbound in the Poe now.

[Denny]

As of 2:55 p.m. on July 7 the McCarthy is downbound above the Locks with the salty Federal Beaufort just up ahead of them. So the Mac will surely be waiting on a turn back from the Federal Beaufort before it can head down into the Poe Lock with the record setting load! Sure wish though I could be at the Soo to see this occasion. Hope to see lots of photos posted of her on KYS Facebook page. As an afterthought on this, after the unfortunate fire in February to the St. Clair, I guess you can say that American Steamship Company deserves this moment and a record setting iron ore load as well. Two thumbs up to ASC along with the captain and crew of the Walter J. McCarthy Jr. a job well done guys and a hearty 3 Long and 2 Short Salute as well to you guys!

[Denny]

As of 12:40 p.m. Eastern Time on July 7, 2019 the McCarthy is now off of Ile Parisienne in Whitefish Bay headed down bound with at least two vessels up ahead of her that I can see on AIS. The Kaministiqua and the salty Federal Beaufort are both ahead of the Mac and the salty will go into the Poe Lock so this could delay the Mac somewhat which would be a good thing for me at least. If they’re coming down here then maybe there’s a very slim chance I might be able to see them then tomorrow if they’re down bound in the mid to late afternoon as anything before that and I’ll miss them as I won’t be able to be out there in the morning.

[Guest]

Since the BayShip thousand footers can carry 78,850 net tons of coal at 34' foot draft, a load of 75,387 tons of coal means a draft of around 32 feet 6 inches.

[Denny]

If the Wally Mac is coming down the St. Clair and Detroit Rivers with this astonishing load, I wonder then what their drafts will be in the river? In other words what numbers will be above the water as she makes her way down? Like I said in my previous post, weeks ago I saw the Gott loaded deep and she had the number 31 above the water or the river so you know then that the Gott was surely hauling a big load then. I got to believe the Mac will have 31 above the water at least maybe 32 with this load. From my records on the ASC loads from BNSF #5 this year, they've gone to Ashtabula and one to Burns Harbor at least. I'm thinking this load maybe on its way to Ashtabula but, I'm only guessing at this so far until I know for sure and get and receive any confirmation on this load. Would love to be at the Soo today and watch her come through with this record breaking load. Will have to watch on the USACE Facebook page for any photos and information on this load also. Will be interesting to see just how long this record stays and holds up before it is challenged and believe me folks it will be challenged either by another ASC footer or else from GLF as far as the Gott or the Speer and remember in 2017 that both the Speer and the Gott briefly and respectively held the title up until September when it was finally broken by the American Integrity. So, its only a matter of time before the Mac's record will be challenged and broken here!

[Guest]

Defiance/Ashtabula loaded to 30 feet earlier this month...not as much tonnage, of course, but 30 feet+ is very doable.

[Denny]

Yes that is indeed correct garbear as it was in 2017 that they broke that record and set it when they loaded in Two Harbors. So the Wally Mac now has the record? Interesting and wonder where they’re taking the load to? If they’re headed this way I’d love to see them but, can’t be at the river on Monday as I have an appointment unfortunately I can’t get out of. I wonder what some of the largest loads have been so far for this year as I’ve seen both the Gott and Burns Harbor on the St. Clair River fully loaded with Tac and the Gott was loaded down to the 32-31 foot mark at least those numbers were above the water and I’ve never seen a ship loaded that deep before. So my point is that both the Gott and the Burns Harbor had to be carrying well over 70,000 and more when I saw the two of them weeks ago. I wonder what the largest coal cargo had been this season in 2019? The American Century set that record back in 1997 when it was Columbia Star at over 70,000 near 71,000 tons and I strongly believe in spite of MERC’s website listing them at 68,000 tons that the Bayship Footers are loading far more coal tonnage than that this year. I’ll betcha even the Paul R. Tregurtha is probably carrying well over the 68,000 ton mark for coal maybe closer to 69,000 tons a trip. Sounds like an interesting time to watch for tonnage records to be set and broken now. Just think if Escanaba was still open and how many tons they’d be loading there? One can only imagine on that one.

[garbear]

Someone told me that the m/v Walter J. McCarthy Jr. loaded 75,387 net tons at Superior the morning of July 6. Won't that be a record tonnage through the Soo Locks when they get there tomorrow morning?

Believe the old record was on the American Integrity in 2017 when it loaded 75,095 ton in Two Harbors.

[Chris]

Someone told me that the m/v Walter J. McCarthy Jr. loaded 75,387 net tons at Superior the morning of July 6. Won't that be a record tonnage through the Soo Locks when they get there tomorrow morning?