Dennis O'Hara / Lake Superior Marine Museum Association webcam
Paul R. Tregurtha
The Paul R. Tregurtha's arrival on Monday, January 18, marked the end of the shipping season in the Twin Ports.
That’s a wrap
Undaunted by the -12° F cold in Duluth, dozens of boatwatchers turned out on Monday morning for the arrival of the Paul R. Tregurtha, the seventh and final laker to lay up in the Twin Ports for winter. That will do it for Lake Superior shipping until late March, when the Soo Locks reopen.
Dennis O’Hara, who runs the indispensable webcams at DuluthHarborCam.com, put together a splendid video of the Tregurtha’s arrival.
Dennis adds, “I plan on keeping all the cameras running through the off-season so we can continue to watch the weather, sunrises, and other activity.” To which we say hooray!
+ Ice has started to develop on Lake Superior. About 6 percent of the Lake has ice, while ice coverage on the Great Lakes as a whole is 15.6 percent.
Duluth Fire Department seeks new maritime tool
Peter Passi writes in the Duluth News Tribune of the the department’s plans to bolster its waterfront firefighting capabilities and its search-and-rescue operations:
The Duluth Fire Department has been working to float a proposal for a new emergency response asset that could provide new protection for the Duluth-Superior Harbor and Park Point in particular. It's something they call an all-hazard quick response vessel.
They’re working with Superior-based Lake Assault Boats to develop the vessel.
Want to run Isle Royale’s Ranger III?
Isle Royale National Park is looking for a licensed master, according to a posting via Boatnerd:
This position functions as Master of the Isle Royale National Park operated vessel, Ranger III, a 165’, 650 gross ton passenger (H), tank (D) and miscellaneous cargo (I) vessel. The Ranger III provides logistical support and commercial passenger/freight service during the months of April – October... During the off season (November – March), this position will be duty stationed at park headquarters in Houghton, Michigan. The Master is responsible for all aspects of vessel operations, administration, and maintenance. Requirements include a Master of Steam or Motor Vessels, minimum 1,600 gross tons for the Great Lakes and Inland, First Class Pilot License and Radar Observer (unlimited) endorsement. This is a permanent-full time, federal government position... Contact Randy Rastello, Chief of Maintenance, at (906) 487-7145, for further job related information... Please email resumes/qualifications to randy_rastello@nps.gov or mail to: Isle Royale National Park, 800 E Lakeshore Dr., Houghton, MI.
The damaged Nipigon River Bridge won’t fully reopen until the end of February, reports the Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal.
Superior’s waterfront Ice Project grows: The recent cold snap aided “Iceman” Roger Hanson’s dazzling sculpture. Click to the last slide for the newest photo.
Historic Ashland mansion redeveloped: The Wilmarth Mansion, built in 1885, will be an event venue and office space, reports Rick Olivo of the Ashland Daily Press.
Duluth’s A.G. Thomson House was named Best B&B in the United States by TripAdvisor.
Feng Zhao, whose research we featured in a story last year, won a Rising Star award from the Biomedical Engineering Society.
An agate hunter reflects on ”precious memories from semiprecious stones” in this Great Lakes Echo story by Colleen Otte.