Oakglen refloated at Port Weller, resumes fitting out

Canada Steamship Lines bulk carrier Oakglen was refloated at Ontario Shipyards in Port Weller on Saturday, June 21, after completing her scheduled 5-year drydock inspection that began in early April. McKeil Marine tugs Jarrett M and VAC assisted the vessel from drydock and to the wall, where fitting out and sea trials will proceed. The refloating marks a significant milestone in the carrier's maintenance cycle and signals her return to active service on the lakes in the coming weeks. Across Lake Erie, port activity remains brisk heading into early summer. At Toledo, the tanker Stenheim continues loading at George Gradel, while Defiance/Ashtabula and Ontario Venture arrived at separate docks to begin operations. In Cleveland, the Dorothy Ann/Pathfinder has been working the stone docks and bulk terminal, with arrivals including Egbert Wagenborg and Algoma Buffalo handling cargo at various facilities. Manitowoc, which loaded limestone at Amrize in Marblehead, has since departed for Detroit. American Courage continues running shuttle operations out of Cleveland, a sign of steady regional demand. Water levels remain favorable for navigation across the lakes. Lake Erie sits 3.20 feet above Low Water Datum at Cleveland, while Superior rests at 1.68 feet and Michigan at 2.21 feet. Marine forecasts call for light winds and one-foot waves on most lakes through Wednesday, with high pressure building across the region. A weak low pressure system moving through Thursday may bring slightly elevated wave heights on Huron, but conditions should remain manageable for freighter operations. On the passenger side, the S.S. Badger, the historic 410-foot coal-fired car ferry, launched overnight sailings on June 19 across Lake Michigan, offering travelers four-hour crossings from Ludington to Manitowoc through early September. The American Patriot, a 2025-built cruise vessel, made her inaugural visit to the Northern Great Lakes, mooring at the Valley Camp dock in Sault Ste. Marie. These seasonal movements underscore the Great Lakes' enduring role in both cargo and passenger commerce.