Sailings March 2025

[Denny]

Hello all boatnerds. Sorry for the delay in posting the Fit-Out Updates. Today I could not access the main site of the Boatnerd website for some reason although certain parts of it I can access such as here on the Discussion Board. So, without further adieu here now are the latest updates and reports for the Fit-Out List for 2025 as of 10:30 p.m. on April 3. As mentioned earlier in his post by Minnesota Bob, the Presque Isle indeed shifted from Lay Up at the Duluth Port Terminal on April 3 and proceeded to the CN Ore Dock in Duluth to take on a little bit of ore pellets. Remember and keep in mind that they had previously loaded "a partial cargo of ore pellets at the CN Dock earlier this Winter for ballast and stability!" The Presque Isle has now since departed from Duluth and are now headed for Cleveland to unload their cargo at the CBT or Cleveland Bulk Terminal. Also departing Lay Up today was the James R. Barker in Sturgeon Bay at Bay Shipbuilding on April 3. They are headed for Two Harbors and the CN Ore Dock there for their first load of the season. As was mentioned in a previous post also, the American Mariner departed their Lay-Up in Buffalo on March 31 and NOT on April 1 as I had reported earlier. The American Mariner headed for Calcite to load and next they are headed to Duluth-Superior to unload. Another vessel departing from Lay-Up this week was the tug G.L. Ostrander and their barge Integrity. If I recall correctly I think they departed their Lay Up in Milwaukee about April 1 and headed to South Chicago afterward. As far as I know, this is all of the Fit-Out News and information that I have to report on at this time. Hope that my information here has helped out and again sorry for the delay in posting this information. I've also had a busy week as well dealing with health and other important issues and next week again, I will be dealing with more appointments plenty of them related to my health. Not to worry as I am doing well and okay for now and my health is holding up as well as can be expected. Take care everyone and Be & Stay Safe and Healthy!

[Denny]

Thanks for the update Bob as I saw that one earlier today on their movement however, I could not do anything about it or send in the report to Boatnerd as for some reason it was blocking and locking me out of their site! I’m just now finally getting onto the site. Everything for now looks different so, I don’t know if they’re making any changes to the website or if it is something perhaps maybe at my end? Don’t know if you or anyone else had any issues with the website or not today? The issues and problems all started today and last night, we had strong storms and heavy rain hit here in Michigan. So, I don’t know if that could have had an effect on boatberd’s website or not but so far so good as things seem to be working well now. Take care my friend and you be and stay well, healthy and safe.

[Mn bob]

The preque isle left layup around 9 am 4/3/25 fueled then headed over to cn docks in Duluth to finish loading.

[Denny]

Thanks Guest as I later read about that information on the Mariner’s departure from Buffalo on the Boatnerd News Page. Again, thanks for clearing that information up and providing an update and correction.

[Guest]

The Mariner actually departed winter lay-up on 3/31... got stuck in ice in the outer harbor and remained there overnight until 4/1 when it was freed and proceeded into the lake.

[Denny]

As of 5 P.M. on April 1, two more vessels have departed their Lay-Up berths and Docks today and are now out sailing for the 2025 shipping season today. The latest to depart are the following, in Ashtabula the Sam Laud left this afternoon for Marblehead while in Buffalo the American Mariner departed also this afternoon for Calcite. That is all of the Fit-Out News and Information that I have at this time for now. Hope that this information helps out.

[Denny]

As of 6:45 p.m. on March 30, two more vessels have departed from Lay Up and are out sailing. The H. Lee White departed lay up in Ashtabula yesterday on March 29. They are presently upbound in Lake Huron and their AIS is showing Cedarville as their next destination. Also departing from lay up today, March 30 was the Thunder Bay of CSL. They were in Port Colborne for Winter Lay Up. Their AIS is showing Thunder Bay as their next destination. That is all the Fit Out information that I have at this time. Hope this helps.

[Denny]

As of 8:30 p.m. on March 29, the CSL St-Laurent departed from Thunder Bay, Ontario today after loading a cargo of wheat. I assume then that they are headed to Montreal, Quebec to unload there however, to my knowledge at least anyway their AIS is not yet updated. Not quite sure or certain just when exactly the CSL St-Laurent would have shifted over from their lay-up berth in Thunder Bay to the grain elevator to load? Hope that this helps.

[Denny]

As of 5:55 p.m. on March 29, a few updates and corrections on some of the Fit Outs and Sail Dates for a few vessels. First. the Burns Harbor per their AIS is heading to Duluth to load ore pellets and not to Superior and the BNSF #5 Dock as I previously reported. Also, the Algoma Equinox per their AIS is now headed to Superior to load presumably at the BNSF #5 Ore Dock in Superior. This I assume is an "Orders Change" as they were at one point due into Thunder Bay, Ontario to load as far as I know to my knowledge at least anyway. That is all the information that I have at this time. Thanks.

[Denny]

As of 9:15 A.M. on March 29, both the Stewart J. Cort and Burns Harbor each have departed their respective Winter Lay Up berths and docks. Each of them were laid up at BayShip in Sturgeon Bay. The Cort departed its lay up in the early evening of March 28 around dinner time and according to their AIS they are headed up to Silver Bay next to load ore pellets then for delivery to Burns Harbor. Also departing lay up on March 28 in the very late evening hours was the Burns Harbor. They are headed to Superior BNSF #5 Dock to load ore pellets for Burns Harbor. That is all of the news and fit out information that I have at this time. I will update more whenever I can and have the time to do so. Thanks. Hope that my information here helps out.

[Denny]

More Sailings and Fit Outs to report for today. As of 8 AM on March 28 three vessels all have departed from their Winter Lay Up berths and docks and are all out and sailing now. In Windsor, the Kaminstiqua departed on March 27 in the late evening hours heading up to Thunder Bay, Ontario to load. Departing from Duluth-Superior also on March 27 during the late evening hours was the Atlantic Huron. They are now heading to Thunder Bay, Ontario. Finally, the American Spirit departed from their Winter Lay Up berth in Toledo, Ohio in the early morning hours of March 28. They are headed for Two Harbors next to load a cargo of ore pellets. That is all of the Fit Out and News I have for now. Hope that this helps out.

[Denny]

As of 4 PM on March 27, a few more updates to add to the 2025 Fit Out List. The Manitowoc departed from their lay up today in Ashtabula and is currently headed to Marblehead next to load. Also, both the American Spirit and also the Edgar B. Speer each have updated their AIS with Two Harbors being their next destinations respectively once they have departed from their Lay Up berths and docks. The American Spirit remains laid up in Toledo, the Speer still is in lay up at Erie. Edgar B. Speer’s AIS though has them expected to be in Two Harbors to load on 4/4/25 at 0100. The American Spirit’s AIS shows them due at Two Harbors on 3/29/25 at 1600 however, as of this report they are still in lay up yet in Toledo! So, it is highly unlikely and very doubtful they will be in Two Harbors by March 29. That is all I have at this time and I hope that this information helps out.

[Denny]

As of 10 AM on March 27, new updates to add to the 2025 Fit Out lists today. Here’s the latest updates. Two CSL ships the CSL Welland and Baie St. Paul have each respectively departed from their Winter Lay Up berths and docks. The CSL Welland from Toronto however, I don’t know exactly for sure just when they left Toronto? They are currently upbound in the Welland Canal as of this report with Thunder Bay as their next destination and they are due up there to load on 3/30/25 at 0600 per their AIS. Also, the Baie St. Paul left from their Winter Lay Up berth and Dock in Montreal and have since entered the Seaway heading upbound. Their AIS is not yet updated so, I don’t yet know where they’re headed to? In Ashtabula, the H. Lee White now has their AIS updated to Cedarville and they are due there to load on 4/1/25 at 1300. Finally, the Whitefish Bay of CSL has departed from their Lay Up in Midland in the past day and is now out sailing and heading to Thunder Bay to load next. That is all of the news, updates and Fit Out info I have at this time for now. Hope that this information has helped out.

[Denny]

As of 5:30 p.m. on March 26, I have new and updated information for the 2025 Fit-Out list and departures. The John J. Boland shifted from their Lay-Up at Fraser Shipyard today to the MERC and SMET Coal Terminal in Superior and they are still currently loading now. Departing from Windsor and Lay-Up is the Northern Venture. Their AIS is not yet updated however they are sailing now in Lake Erie headed East. Two vessels still in lay-up now have their AIS updated! The Sam Laud in Ashtabula now has Marblehead as their next destination due there on March 29 to load. Also, the American Mariner in lay-up in Buffalo is now showing Calcite as their next destination and they are due up there to load on April 1st. That is all of the news and Fit-Out information that I have at this time. Surprisingly, Sturgeon Bay still has plenty of vessels still there in Winter Lay-Up with many not yet departing for the season just yet! In Toledo, the American Courage, American Spirit along with the Great Republic and John G. Munson all still remain there in Lay-Up. In Erie, Algoma Innovator and Edgar B. Speer among a few of them still remain there in lay-up. Still in Lay-Up in Ashtabula are the Calumet along with the Sam Laud and H. Lee White to name a few. In Duluth, the Atlantic Huron and Presque Isle still remain laid up there. That is all for now.

[Mn bob]

The John j boland just left Fraser shipyard and is backing towards merc coal dock at 12:30 pm Wednesday

[Denny]

The American Integrity departed from Ashtabula and Not from Toledo as they were laid up in Ashtabula this winter and not Toledo. See my previous post on their departure from layup along with the LayUp and Sail Date lists here on the Boatnerd site. As of 11:50 a.m. on March 26, the Algoma Equinox departed from their Winter Layup Berth and Dock in Montreal and are now in the Seaway heading inbound and also upbound on their first trip of the 2025 shipping season. That is all I have for news and fit-outs at this time. I hope that this information helps and was helpful.

[ashland69]

American Integrity has left its layup berth in Toledo today, and as of about midnight Tuesday, she's approaching the lower Detroit River.

[Denny]

As of 10 PM on March 25 a new updated version for the Fit-Out list for 2025. First off, the John J. Boland “Did not depart from their lay-up berth and dock in Superior today at the Fraser Shipyard!” The Boland is still in lay-up at Superior at this time. However though, the Hon. James L. Oberstar did depart from their lay-up at Fraser Shipyard in Superior and is now headed up to Two Harbors and the CN Ore Dock to load ore pellets. Departing from Ashtabula today and their lay-up was the American Integrity. Their AIS is not yet updated so I don’t know yet where they’re headed to? The Paul R. Tregurtha has finally turned on their AIS just today for the first time this Spring! A few vessels that have loaded up and now are underway. The Lee A. Tregurtha departed Duluth today with ore pellets from the CN Ore Dock for Cleveland. Walter J. McCarthy Jr. departed Two Harbors and the CN Ore Dock there with ore pellets for Gary. The Captain Henry Jackman has departed from Thunder Bay, Ontario with wheat for Baie Comeau. That is all that I have at this time. Hope that this information has helped out.

[Denny]

A few more departures from Winter Lay-Up today to add to the list and the mix as well. The Lee A. Tregurtha shifted from their layup berth and dock at Fraser Shipyard in Superior today March, 25 I think? They went over to Duluth to load ore pellets at the CN Ore Dock. Two departures today from Lay-Up in Sarnia. Both the Algoma Intrepid and Manitoulin each departed their respective layup docks and berths. Each one is heading to Thunder Bay, Ontario to load next. Another, the John J. Boland was expected to shift over from their layup berth at Fraser Shipyard in Superior to the MERC Coal Terminal in Superior to load today on March 25. That’s all the Fit-Out News and information I have at this time. Hope that this information helps out.

[Bookworm]

Lee A. Tregurtha just departed Duluth with taconite for Cleveland!