About
Shipwatcher News was started in 2014 by Brendan Falkowski as a small handwritten news bulletin on Great Lakes freighters. The newsletter, now called the Freighters, is a digital edition sent out bi-monthly throughout the year.
Meet the Shipwatcher News team
Owner & Editor
Brendan Falkowski
A Great Lakes ship enthusiast since his early childhood, Brendan shares his passion for the freighters through his newsletter, research, and photography. Brendan is a 2022 hails from Bath, MI, and is a senior at University of Michigan studying Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering.
He is an avid musician, having served as the drum major for his high school band, and now is a member of the trumpet section in the University of Michigan Marching Band.
He also is a competitive sailor, helping to found the Bath High School Sailing Team and serving as the Team Captain for its inaugural season. He enjoys sailing, photography, music, and spending time with his friends and family.
Brendan helped lead the Caring for Our Sailors service project over 2020 and 2021.
Content Crew
Samuel Hankinson
A 2021 graduate of Central Michigan University, Sam is currently the Port Development Coordinator at the Port of Monroe primarily tasked with identifying new cargo and infrastructure opportunities, improving current operations, and promoting the port in social media circles.
In the past he has been involved with high-level research projects in partnership with the University of Michigan’s Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy relating to port governance and beneficial reuse.
He currently serves on the board of both the Marine Historical Society of Detroit (MHSD) and Boatnerd.com, serving as secretary of MHSD.
He is involved with the annual publication Know Your Ships and writes the weekly Ship’s Log column in the Grand Haven Tribune, profiling the maritime commerce in his hometown harbor of Grand Haven.
In addition, he is a Young Professional Member of the Inland Waterways Committee as part of the Transportation Research Board.
His favorite places on the Great Lakes include Grand Haven’s South Pier, the Rock Cut on the St. Marys River, the Marine City lighthouse on the St. Clair River, and Flood Bay outside Two Harbors, MN.
Jack HurT
Scott Bjorklund
Photo Crew
Samuel Hankinson
Scott Bjorklund
Jack Hurt
Daniel Lindner
Roger LeLievre
Isaac Pennock
David & Gus Schauer
Ethan Severson
Nick Stenstrup
Logan Vasicek
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank everyone who has supported and helped me with Shipwatcher News. Special thanks goes to my original subscribers, parents, family, friends, and teachers who all encouraged me in the early years of SN.
I also would like to thank all of those who have helped me expand SN, especially but not limited to the teams at Sand Products Corporation, Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry, Bay Engineering Inc., Interlake Steamship Co., NETSCo., VanEnkevort Tug & Barge, Algoma Central Corp., CSL Group, Soo Marine Supply, Sam Hankinson, and Roger LeLievre with Know Your Ships.
Thank you to my “team” of photographers, Scott Bjorklund, Sam Hankinson, Jack Hurt, Daniel Lindner, Roger LeLievre, Isaac Pennock, Gus & David Schauer, Ethan Severson, and Logan Vasicek, who have all allowed me to share their photos in the SN newsletters. Freighters newsletter would not look the same without their fantastic work!
Finally, I would like to thank the naval architects and marine engineers, Travis Martin, Fred Koller, and Nicholas Posh from Bay Engineering, Eric Helder from Interlake Steamship Company, Nick Hunter from Elliott Bay Design Group, and Andrew MacDonald from Port City Marine Services, who have assisted me and provided insight into the field of Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering for the Engineering Department articles. Working with them has helped take the newsletter to the next level and has been monumental in my own professional development. Without you all, and many more, Shipwatcher News would not be where it is today.
~Brendan Falkowski
All of the images on this website are copyright Brendan Falkowski unless otherwise noted. Nothing from this website may be republished, reproduced, or rewritten in any way, shape, or form.
Shipwatcher News 