Where Are the 1,000 footers?

[Denny]

To all my boatnerd friends and readers and followers of this thread and post. You will all be happy to know now that the curse as I call it and say of NOT seeing too many of the 1,000 footers on the St. Clair River in part finally ended today as of November 1st. I got to see the Indiana Harbor while they were downbound on the river. It was my first time seeing them and in 2023 I only saw them once the whole entire year on the river. The Big Indy if you will is only the second 1,000 footer for 2024 that I’ve seen on the St. Clair River with the Paul R. Tregurtha being the first one in August 2024. Keep in mind that in 2023, I got to see 8 of the 1,000 footers on the St. Clair River then. That is quite a significant drop off in the amount of the 1,000 footers seen on the river from 2023 to 2024 that is for certain! So why the big drop off? I attribute it mostly to more iron ore pellet loads going to Lake Michigan ports such as to Gary, Indiana and Burns Harbor and not too many ore loads going down to lower lake ports then on Lake Erie to places such as Toledo, Cleveland, Conneaut and Nanticoke all of which have seen much more footer traffic in recent years than this current year has seen then so far at least. Still though, it seemed great to finally get to see one other 1,000 footer and hopefully Big Indy isn’t my last one I see on the river for this year as I hope to see many more of them soon.

[Denny]

Thanks Guest as I appreciate that very much. Right now though, I’ll take any 1,000 footer not just the PRT though. Last year in 2023, I saw 8 footers all on the St. Clair River. That was before I got very sick and ill last fall and was put in the hospital. Last year also, I made 13 trips to the river for my boat watching adventures. This year it’s been much less and fewer than those 13 from last year that I did. Hopefully I’ll get lucky sometime this fall. I keep on telling myself, just be patient and hang in there as good things come to those who wait! Just hope they come soon before it really starts to turn cold outside and then I am out on the water freezing!

[Guest]

You are truly in my prayers that you get to see PRT again in between all your appointments.

[Denny]

Just did a fast check on the 1,000 footers. Part of the many reasons I’m missing them. First, check them out and see as many of them now are heading up to Lake Superior destinations for their next loads. So far as of October 2nd only the American Spirit is here on the lower lakes right now in Toledo unloading. The American Century just left from getting fuel in Detroit or Windsor early this morning and they are heading back up for their next load. At the Soo, the Wally Mac is down with a Conneaut destination and the James R. Barker is headed to Burns Harbor right now. The Indiana Harbor left from Gary and they are now headed back up for their next load. The Speer is at anchor off Duluth could be waiting for the Mesabi Miner to finish which is currently loading at CN Duluth. Presque Isle is on Lake Michigan to Indiana Harbor, while American Integrity is in Gary and has been since September 29. The Gott it appears is headed for Two Harbors. So, my point is with all this scuttlebut most of the footers now are all up getting their next loads or on their way up to load now. The PRT just arrived to load coal at the MERC or SMET Dock and it won’t depart until late this evening then. So, I would say that most of the footers won’t be around the lower lakes for a few more days at least. Next week I have a busy week with lots of appointments so, not sure when I’ll get to see any of them? Then there’s always the weather this time of the year as you never know about that issue also! At least I got to see the PRT once so far this year back in August and I’d say right now that’s probably going to be the one and only time I see it unless something changes?

[Guest]

The American ship built don't have the wings on the bridge. They come in contact with the loading shuts in thete stored positions. Also footers have to be listed inboard to allow pellets to flow with proper angle of shuts when starting to load in full ballast

[Guest Jon Paul]

Correcting my previous post. The American Spirit has a 50' depth that allows for clearance at the LS&I shute dock compared to Bay Shipbuilding boats that are 56' depth.

[Guest Jon Paul]

According to Marine Traffic, it looks like the American Spirit is running from Marquette to Toledo, I didn't realize Marquette could load 1000 footers?

The American Spirit with its 45' depth compared to 50' for other footers has loaded in Marquette multiple times last season and is on its 2nd trip I'm a row from LS&I to Toledo Torco. They use both sides of the ore dock to help balance out the load on it 105' beam.

[Guest]

According to Marine Traffic, it looks like the American Spirit is running from Marquette to Toledo, I didn't realize Marquette could load 1000 footers?

[Mn bob]

Heads up Denny as the Indiana harbor just loaded at Duluth and is heading to Cleveland. Hope you get to see her.

[Guest]

Perhaps DTE is not consuming as much coal at Belle River and Monroe. Natural gas prices are pretty low so they might be utilizing those sources instead.

But you are seeing what IMO will happen when those two plants close. Footers will be forced into one of the two remains trades available - iron ore and lime stone. And that will cause alot of mid-sized boats to disappear.

I would tend to believe that the use of thousand foot vessels in the limestone trade will be somewhat limited by the number of docks open to handling such a large vessel. I would be more inclined to believe that many of the mid sized ships will be dedicated to that trade while the thousand footers will be relegated almost exclusively to the ore trade. But, yes, I do agree that many mid-sized boats under the US flag are bound to disappear with the closure of the coal power plants, along with a few of the thousand footers.

[Guest]

Perhaps DTE is not consuming as much coal at Belle River and Monroe. Natural gas prices are pretty low so they might be utilizing those sources instead.

But you are seeing what IMO will happen when those two plants close. Footers will be forced into one of the two remains trades available - iron ore and lime stone. And that will cause alot of mid-sized boats to disappear.

[Mn bob]

Denny you must just be missing the footers as there have been many of them going down the st claire river. Several of the asc footers have been going to conneaut and the gott and presque isle have been running to nanticoke,mesabi miner and James r barker have delivered to Toledo and Cleveland. The Indiana harbor just did a split load of coal to st clair and Monroe as did the Walter j McCarthy a week or so ago. The American spirit just delivered a load to Toledo a couple days ago. Hope you get to see some of the footers down your way my friend as there have been many passages of them. Take care and be well.

[Denny]

Although I have not made as many voyages and trips to the St. Clair River this year as in previous years, it seems as if this year I am NOT seeing as many 1,000 footers down on the St. Clair River as I used to! It would seem I’m seeing more of them going over to Lake Michigan with loads for places like Gary and Indiana Harbor and fewer trips here to the lower lakes, places such as Toledo along with Cleveland, Ashtabula and Nanticoke. Do they still use the 1,000 footers on ore runs to Ashtabula? I’ve not seen too many going there over the years. Right now, I’m only seeing the Paul R. Tregurtha headed down to the lower lakes with their usual coal runs. Every other 1,000 footer is either up on the Upper Great Lakes, loading or else over on Lake Michigan right now. Granted and YES I’m aware of the fact that coal is being phased out and the demand is not there for that product as it used to be and that many of the coal fired plants are starting to become a thing of the past. Is ore demand right now greater and higher at the Lake Michigan mills such as Gary and Indiana Harbor as to why you’re seeing more loads going there and less to the lower lakes? Any info is appreciated.Thanks.