by Kenneth Newhams on March 11, 2010
by Kenneth Newhams on March 8, 2010
The US Coast Guard cutter Alder, just before she departed her dock on March 8, 2010 to take a first look at ice conditions. They report ice up to 20 inches thick, 
better than last year, and the warm weather suggests it could end up being very much better than last year. They will go out again on Wednesday, as originally planned and may not be out again until just before the first boat moves in the harbor, probably the James R. Barker leaving with coal for a Lake Superior Port, maybe on the 19th.
by Kenneth Newhams on March 5, 2010
I am in the middle of moving this website/blog to a new server that will make this a faster page. I will also be making changes to the look of the page and sometimes just experimenting with stuff. I hope for you patience while I work on this. In the meantime, I will be posting more here with the shipping season about to start. You can also get updates by following the Duluth Shipping News on Twitter. Click on the friendly bird to sign up.
by Kenneth Newhams on February 24, 2010
The North Tower of the the Aerial Bridge is getting a paint job.
by Kenneth Newhams on February 16, 2010
Fraser Shipyards President and COO Jim Korthals today (February 16, 2010) had two big projects to talk about. He first detailed the specifics of the work that will be done at Fraser using a $2 million grant Wisconsin Congressman David Obey helped get for the shipyard. In the picture, he (Korthals, right) is pointing out areas in the shipyard where over 420 feet of sheet piling, or dock wall spacing, will be repaired with the money. That is a project that will begin as soon as the funding arrives. Congressman Obey is on the left.
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Already in full gear is the addition of Lake Assault Boats to the Fraser family. Purchased by Fraser two months ago, the company was moved to the shipyard, along with their 58 customers in 13 states. With this addition, Fraser now builds patrol, fire and rescue boats, as well as hunting and fishing boats, the first boats the company built. Several of them were on display at Fraser today. Members of the Lake Vermilion Fire Brigade were there to show off their recent purchase of Lake Assault boat. The picture tells the story.
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by Kenneth Newhams on February 15, 2010
… the former Coast Guard cutter that was built in Duluth in 1943 and served many years here before retiring into the tourist business. Happily, very happily, Jeff plans to maintain the Sundew’s presence in the Twin Ports. Here he is checking out his new purchase on February 15th. He plans to start working on the ship in the beginning of April so he can take her out of her home for the last 5 years and put her back in the Twin Ports waters again. He is not sure yet what is in store for the future, but being seen a lot in the Twin Ports is very much a part of the plan. (Pictures from the Sundew’ past)
by Kenneth Newhams on February 6, 2010
The Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge painting project continues. The scaffolding is almost to the top (below) and the tents to protect us from flying chips of lead based paint are starting to appear (Saturday, February 6, 2010). Some folks think the concern about lead in paint is overdone, but it is funny, the closer you are to the chips, the happier you are with the tents. Of course, the tent will keep the painters warm; no such luck for the scaffolding builders. Painting is set to start on Monday.
by Kenneth Newhams on January 29, 2010
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Last night (January 28, 2010), the Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge was all lights as workers from Rainbow, Inc in Minneapolis erected scaffolding they will use to paint the north tower of the bridge. Next will come a large tent that will cover the scaffolding and the tower while they sandblast the old paint off, down to the steel. Then 3 coats of paint will be applied; all this to be completed by March 17 when the first vessel traffic of the season will be able to move under the bridge. The bridge cannot be lifted while the work is being done. Just above the entry for auto traffic, you can see large steel beams that will provide the first floor for their work, leaving the basement level for auto traffic. Click here for larger version
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If you have visited the Marine Museum in Canal Park, you have certainly walked by the three cabin berths on the second floor each with an original member of the crew still there, although the years have not been kind to the three of them; they are very white and seem barely alive. I have always assumed the staff at the museum 
allowed them to go to sleep at night; standing all day is not an easy job, but I have never been in the museum late enough to find out. Finally, our crack investigative unit discovered our first big clue. One of our photographers snuck up on Park Ranger Beth Du
ncan while she was changing the sheets in the middle cabin. And piles of sheets were noticed in other parts of the museum. Most of us know you don’t change the sheets in the bed unless someone is going to sleep in the bed. We will still try to get pictures of our very white and very quiet museum models, but we are all certainly glad that the museum is looking out for them; I understand they do not pay them a lot of money. The picture here shows Beth cleaning up the second cabin, much of which came from the wood sailing vessel Lucerne, a vessel than sank in the late 19th century. You see our white friend in the back, looking at himself in the mirror. He had moved out of the way so Beth could change his sheets. It is rumored that they only change his sheets once a year.
