Are there still cargo ships on the Great Lakes?

More than 25 companies operate commercial vessels in the Great Lakes-Seaway System. The largest Great Lakes freighters are massive and can carry more than 70,000 tons of cargo in a single voyage. Stood on end, these ships would be as tall as a 100 story building.

Do the Great Lakes have cargo ships?

While all types of cargo are transported on the Great Lakes-Seaway system, bulk cargo dominates commercial shipping in the region. Transportation of these cargoes serve the region's farmers and manufacturers.

Are there still freighters on the Great Lakes?

While there are thousands of small freighters in the Great Lakes there are only 13 1,000 footers! Sault Ste. Marie is the perfect place to see these beasts in action. There has never been a better time to visit the Soo than this summer.

Is there commercial shipping on Lake Michigan?

Today Lake Michigan continues to be a major shipping route to and from the Midwest for freighters. The town of Singapore, founded in the 1830's, was one of the first establishments on the Michigan side of Lake Michigan.

Can Great Lakes freighters go to the ocean?

However, smaller freighters are able to make the voyage from the Great Lakes to the Atlantic along the St. Lawrence Seaway. The Great Lakes shipping season begins in March and ends in January.

Life Aboard a Freighter - Great Lakes Now - 1002 - Segment 2

What is the oldest Great Lakes freighter still in service?

The Alpena is currently the oldest ship sailing the lakes. It was damaged by a fire in 2015 while dry-docked in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. Despite an estimated $3 million in damage, the ship was repaired and returned to service the following year.

How much does a Great Lakes ship captain make?

Deckhands average about $55,000 to $65,000 a season, which usually equates to six or seven months of work. Officers start around $90,000. Captains make $160,000 to $200,000, according to Glenn Kolke, marine personnel manager for Interlake.

Does the US Navy operate in the Great Lakes?

Opened in 1911, Naval Station Great Lakes (NSGL) is the Navy's largest training installation and the home of the Navy's only Boot Camp. Located on over 1600 acres overlooking Lake Michigan, the installation includes 1,153 buildings with 39 on the National Register of Historic Places.

How much freight is moved on the Great Lakes?

Given the Great Lakes small footprint compared to the vast oceans our planet has, it's easy to wonder why any shipping gets done on our fresh water at all, but with 63 commercial ports and almost 200 million tons of cargo moved annually on the lakes, it's actually a very busy means of shipping.

How many ships operate on the Great Lakes?

More than 25 companies operate commercial vessels in the Great Lakes-Seaway System. The largest Great Lakes freighters are massive and can carry more than 70,000 tons of cargo in a single voyage.

What is the newest ship on the Great Lakes?

Viking on May 6 completed its inaugural Great Lakes voyage on the new Viking Octantis, the largest cruise ship to sail the Great Lakes. Viking is offering three Great Lakes itineraries this year on the 378-passenger expedition ship.

Where Do Great Lakes freighters go in winter?

If conditions persist, the lay-up location for a freighter will be determined by the thickness and amount of ice. Ice jams near Sault Saint Marie (between Lake Huron and Lake Superior) have forced many freighters to go to their nearest ports in either Duluth, Minnesota or Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. Photo by Brian Kelsey.

How many gallons of fuel does a Great Lakes freighter hold?

Those ships are generally in the 8,000- to 14,000-TEU range. Ships in that size range can carry between 2.5 million and 3.5 million gallons of fuel.

What fuel do Great Lakes freighters use?

Royal Dutch Shell PLC hopes to pump natural gas into Great Lakes freighters, as it seeks new ways to lift demand for a struggling commodity. Shell on Monday unveiled plans to build a small liquefied natural gas plant in Sarnia, Ont., to provide fuel to marine traffic, as well as trucks and trains.

How long is the Great Lakes shipping season?

As per federal orders, the Soo Locks close on January 15 and re-open March 25 every year. During this time maintenance is performed on the chambers. Although there are occasional exceptions, such as ice, these two dates are pillars for shipping season in the Great Lakes.

Are there active submarines in the Great Lakes?

Naval ships. The Great Lakes are home to a large number of naval craft serving as museums (including five submarines, two destroyers and a cruiser). The Great Lakes are not known for submarine activity, but the undersea service fires the imagination of many.

Are there any aircraft carriers in the Great Lakes?

Both USS Sable and USS Wolverine hold the distinction of being the only freshwater, coal-driven, side paddle-wheel aircraft carriers used by the United States Navy. USS Sable earned both the American Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal during her Naval career.

Are there any war ships on the Great Lakes?

After the war, the U.S. occupation of Canada obviated the need for a fleet of (already obsolete) battleships on the Great Lakes, and the ships were scrapped.

Do Great Lakes freighters take passengers?

In addition to their cargo load, these ships can also carry up to 12 people, which can include luckily travelers if there's space. You usually don't buy a ticket for these journeys. Rather, you need to either know someone in the crew or win a ticket in a raffle.

How much does a harbor pilot make?

The average salary of harbor pilots nationwide is more than $400,000. But the highly-skilled pilots maintain they earn every dollar on a job that is often treacherous and unpredictable.

How much can you make working on a cargo ship?

While ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as $95,500 and as low as $18,500, the majority of Container Ship salaries currently range between $27,000 (25th percentile) to $53,000 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $67,500 annually across the United States.

Are there shipwrecks in the Great Lakes?

There are over 6,000 shipwrecks in the Great Lakes, having caused an estimate loss of 30,000 mariners' lives. It is estimated that there are about 550 wrecks in Lake Superior, most of which are undiscovered.

Is the EM Ford still sailing?

The E.M. Ford's 110-year journey has ended. Attempts to save the historic 428-foot-long vessel, or at least parts of it, failed as it was expected to start its journey from the Saginaw River to the Purvis Marine Scrapyard in Sault Ste.