When steel meets water: Launching the Mark W. Barker
Retired Lakers Manistee and St. Clair to be scrapped at Port Colborne
Government takes steps closer to building an additional Great Lakes icebreaker
SS Badger heading to the shipyard
In the Design: Major Conversions & Rebuilds Part I
Featured Vessel: Commander / Caroline McKee
Farewell to the USCGC Alder
Port of Monroe awarded grant for cargo screening infrastructure
Algoma Spirit departs for the boneyard
New Captain Henry Jackman breaks cargo record on maiden voyage
In the Design: Ballast systems
Featured Vessel: Edgar B. Speer
The Port of Monroe was recently awarded the Robert J. Lewis Pacesetter Award by the Great Lakes Seaway Development Corporation, the agency of the U.S. Department of Transportation responsible for overseeing and managing the U.S. portion of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway system. The Port of Monroe continues to grow and adapt, and has earned the Pacesetter award 6 out of the last 8 years. The most recent award marks their third consecutive. The award is given to Ports across the American part of the Seaway system who create new cargo opportunities, as well as increase cargo volume and vessel calls.
Port Director Paul LaMarre III states that the Port of Monroe is more than just the Pacesetter Award. “It is the rebirth of the Port since 2012 and establishing our identity as an active and major seaport on the Great Lakes”. LaMarre said that the Port is refocusing on maritime and transportation commerce to better the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway system, as well as the community of Monroe, providing revenue and jobs. He has nicknamed Monroe the “Biggest little port”, and wants the Port of Monroe to serve as an example of putting a port back on the map, to carry on the legacy of the original ideals of shipping on the Great Lakes by industry magnates in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. “If I could describe the port in one word, it would be resilient”, stated LaMarre.
“Since its inception in 1932, the port was always identified with lots of potential”, LaMarre noted. There is a shelf full of port development and feasibility studies in alignment with this potential, but the port never reached the level of potential until recently. By identifying cargo opportunities locally, the port has gone from a relatively inactive seaport to a leader in the community and in the Great Lakes Seaway system.
“If you create the relationship, the cargo always comes later” remarked LaMarre. And that’s what the Port of Monroe has done. They have built relationships with carriers, cargo origins, and other ports across the system. They have changed the mentality of turning to a feasibility study before making a move to just making the move. The port shown that they can do the work feasibly, economically, and have proved themselves. Monroe also has the honor of being home to the world’s oldest active tugboat, the Georgia of 1897, which is owned and operated by the Great Lakes Towing Company. “Having the tug Georgia there is one of the most rewarding parts of the job”, LaMarre said.
Paul LaMarre III took over at the Port of Monroe in 2012. He previously conceptualized the idea of the National Museum of the Great Lakes in Toledo, and oversaw the transformation and restoration of the museum ship Willis B. Boyer back to her original glory as the Col. James M. Schoonmaker. He continues to serve at the museum as the Vice Chairman at the museum, and has oversight of both museum ships. This, he does in his spare time. “My goal is to preserve the Great Lakes, past, present, and future” said LaMarre. LaMarre also previously served at the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority. At the Port, he is assisted by Sam Hankinson, a recent Central Michigan grad and Port Development Coordinator, among others. The people come first at Port of Monroe.
The Port of Monroe happens to be home of one of 4 wind tower manufacturers in the United States, Ventower Industries. In 2019, the Port served as the manufacturing and staging location for Ventower, and assisted in the export of wind tower components to Peru in 2019. In 2020, demand from regional wind projects helped the port expand into the importation of wind tower components as well. Partnered with General Electric Wind and Spliethoff’s BigLift, the ocean-going ship Happy River was placed on a regular shuttle service, delivering wind towers from Becancour, QC, to Monroe to supplement the regional projects. As a result, Monroe has become the regional distribution hub for GE wind, expanding the Port’s multimodal transportation sector.
LaMarre has credited the Port’s ability to be nimble and able to adapt at a moment’s notice some of the key reasons to their success. Last year’s focus was on wind at the port, and this year, the focus turns to steel coils, which will be imported from Nanticoke, ON. The Port is also working to make it possible for Michigan agricultural products to be exported from more Michigan ports. “I don’t see us in competition with any other Great Lakes port”, added LaMarre. “Though we are a smaller port, we are often able to have a greater impact on those that we serve”. Even with their growth recently, Port of Monroe has lost more cargo than they have handled since 2012. This is primarily due to ongoing issues with U.S. Customs & Border Patrol, who have prevented and refused the Port from handling certain international cargoes requiring detailed inspection and screening.
Of all of the ports in the State of Michigan, Port of Monroe is one of two public ports, the other being the Detroit-Wayne County Port Authority. Interestingly, the State of Michigan has more ports than any other state on the Great Lakes-Seaway system, but does not have any single entity representing the ports of Michigan. Paul LaMarre is working with the state government to help develop a much more thorough awareness to what the ports contribute to the state economy, as well as help generate financial support for the ports. Of the state’s multi-million-dollar annual transportation budget, currently $0 goes towards marine transportation.
After all of this, what is next for the Port of Monroe? The Port plans to continue to aim high and improve. They strive to build a more harmonious relationship with US Customs and Border Patrol. Port of Monroe is currently on track to be a full service and highly advanced container port by the spring of 2023, with the capability of screening containers and handle more international cargo. Above all, they will continue to be resilient and relentless.
Port of Monroe steers to the future
USCGC Alder to depart Great Lakes
Unprecedented second printing of Know Your Ships
Shepler’s William Richard christened
In the Design: Fuels and Emissions
Featured Vessel: Alpena
On May 2, 2021, I lost a close friend. Cooper Gardner, a junior in high school, passed away due to complications resulting from an injury from an accident in a baseball game. Cooper was an amazing person. He was kind, intelligent, and one of the hardest working people I knew. His family is in need of help for covering costs of Cooper’s hospital stay and funeral costs. Please consider helping out Cooper’s family as they mourn his loss, and keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
GoFundMe Link for Cooper Gardner’s family
Looking back: 2020 Season recap
COVID and Great Lakes shipping in 2021
Caroline McKee enters service on the Great Lakes
Construction update: Mark W. Barker
In the Design: Hull strength
Featured Vessel: CSL Tadoussac
Shipwatcher News Special Presentation of the 36th America’s Cup
The 36th America’s Cup Match is covered in this special presentation issue.
Even though the America’s Cup is not related to the Great Lakes or the ships that sail them, it is a unique and important competition in international sailing, and featured in this Shipwatcher News Special Presentation.
Shipwatcher News is not affiliated with America’s Cup Event LTD. in any way. This information may not be redistributed in any way shape or form. America’s Cup photos used with permission from America’s Cup Event Media Cloud and American Magic Team USA Media Center.
Shipwatcher News Special Presentation of the 36th America’s Cup
36th America’s Cup competitors and preliminary races are covered in this first issue of the SN Special Presentation of the America’s Cup.
Even though the America’s Cup is not related to the Great Lakes or the ships that sail them, it is a unique and important competition in international sailing, and featured in this Shipwatcher News Special Presentation.
Shipwatcher News is not affiliated with America’s Cup Event LTD. in any way. This information may not be redistributed in any way shape or form. America’s Cup photos used with permission from America’s Cup Event Media Cloud and American Magic Team USA Media Center.
Farewell to familiar ships
Captain Henry Jackman launched
Roger Blough suffers major fire in layup
Building the International Great Lakes Datum
In the Design: Automation – A look into the increased use of automation on Great Lakes ships
Featured Vessel: Mississagi
115 years ago today, St. Marys Challenger, then known as the William P. Snyder, met the waters of the Great Lakes for the first time when she was launched at Great Lakes Engineering Works at Ecorse, MI. Today, she survives as a cement carrier barge, owned by Port City Marine Services.
Read more about her history at William P. Snyder – Shipwatcher News Great Lakes Ships
The Shipwatcher News 