Vol. I  ·  Monday, September 28, 2026

DEFIANCE Estimated at Port Huron / St. Clair River Around 6:14 a.m. ET

Published by Chris Izworski  ·  Founder, Great Lakes Gazette  ·  Sep 28, 2026

How this edition was made: Every sentence is generated from a dated BoatNerd, NOAA or NWS source field and checked against those stored facts before publication. The lead was chosen by fixed rules. Estimates are marked as estimates and positions change after their report time. Verify time-sensitive details with the original provider. Report a correction.

65 vessels from BoatNerd's latest passage lists, 6 NOAA gauges and 5 NWS lake forecasts, each with its source time.

DEFIANCE, upbound, was reported at St. Clair at 4:58 a.m. ET; BoatNerd estimates it at Vantage Point / Port Huron around 6:14 a.m. ET. Its AIS destination field reads GREEN BAY. That time is a BoatNerd estimate, not a confirmed arrival or lock transit. The latest BoatNerd passage lists for 7 watch points held 65 distinct vessels with reports from the last 24 hours.

At the Watch Points

Soo Locks: AMERICAN INTEGRITY, downbound, was reported at Whitefish Point at 4:54 a.m. ET; BoatNerd estimates it at Soo Locks around 8:10 a.m. ET. Its AIS destination field reads CONNEAUT. PRESQUE ISLE, upbound, was reported at 9 Mile Point at 4:47 a.m. ET; BoatNerd estimates it at Soo Locks around 5:47 a.m. ET. Its AIS destination field reads TWO HARBORS. SAM LAUD, upbound, was reported at Detour at 4:43 a.m. ET; BoatNerd estimates it at Soo Locks around 8:16 a.m. ET. Its AIS destination field reads BAY CITY SLIP.

Port Huron / St. Clair River: SLAVYANKA, upbound, was reported at Stag Island Upper at 4:27 a.m. ET; BoatNerd estimates it at Vantage Point / Port Huron around 5:04 a.m. ET. Its AIS destination field reads CA THU. ALGOMA BUFFALO, downbound, was reported at Vantage Point / Port Huron at 3:49 a.m. ET. Its AIS destination field reads SANDUSKY. REBECCA LYNN, upbound, was reported at Vantage Point / Port Huron at 2:56 a.m. ET. Its AIS destination field reads INDIANA HARBOR.

Detroit River: RT HON PAUL J MARTIN, upbound, was reported at South East Shoal at 3:04 a.m. ET; BoatNerd estimates it at Dossin Museum / Detroit around 8:37 a.m. ET. CAROLINE MCKEE, upbound, was reported at South East Shoal at 1:42 a.m. ET; BoatNerd estimates it at Dossin Museum / Detroit around 8:53 a.m. ET. DIRK S. VANENKEVORT, downbound, was reported at Dossin Museum / Detroit at 10:57 p.m. ET Sept. 27. Its AIS destination field reads TOLEDO.

Welland Canal: CHESTNUT, outbound, was reported at Port Weller at 4:58 a.m. ET. Its AIS destination field reads CA MTR. JOHN D LEITCH, inbound, was reported at Port Weller at 8:50 p.m. ET Sept. 27. Its AIS destination field reads BURNS HARBOR. FEDERAL ST LAURENT, outbound, was reported at Port Weller at 7:34 p.m. ET Sept. 27. Its AIS destination field reads CASOR.

Straits of Mackinac: STENHEIM, westbound, was reported at Straits of Mackinac at 5:59 p.m. ET Sept. 27. Its AIS destination field reads US GRB. PAUL R TREGURTHA, westbound, was reported at Straits of Mackinac at 2:06 p.m. ET Sept. 27. Its AIS destination field reads INDY HBR. WYANDOT, eastbound, was reported at Straits of Mackinac at 10:49 a.m. ET Sept. 27.

Duluth / Superior: LIMNOS, inbound, was reported at 1 Hour From Duluth at 3:45 a.m. ET. Its AIS destination field reads SCI OPS. KALIMERA, inbound, was reported at Duluth Piers at 10:02 p.m. ET Sept. 27. STEWART J CORT, outbound, was reported at Superior Entry at 9:45 p.m. ET Sept. 27. Its AIS destination field reads BURNS HARBOR.

Saginaw: no vessel reports from the last 24 hours were returned. That does not mean the waterway is empty.

The Levels Ledger

Marquette C.G. (Lake Superior), NOAA station 9099018: 0.909 ft above Low Water Datum at 4:48 a.m. ET, preliminary data.

Holland (Lake Michigan), NOAA station 9087031: 1.824 ft above Low Water Datum at 4:54 a.m. ET, preliminary data.

Harbor Beach (Lake Huron), NOAA station 9075014: 1.752 ft above Low Water Datum at 4:48 a.m. ET, preliminary data.

Essexville (Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron), NOAA station 9075035: 2.024 ft above Low Water Datum at 4:54 a.m. ET, preliminary data.

Fairport (Lake Erie), NOAA station 9063053: 2.769 ft above Low Water Datum at 4:54 a.m. ET, preliminary data.

Oswego (Lake Ontario), NOAA station 9052030: 2.395 ft above Low Water Datum at 4:48 a.m. ET, preliminary data.

Each reading is one gauge above that lake's chart datum; it does not establish channel depth or vessel clearance.

Weather on the Water

Lake Superior, NWS forecast issued 4:01 a.m. ET: "A 30.1 inch high pressure holds over Lake Superior today. Thereafter a 29.7 inch trough will build into the Plains with Lake Superior remaining between the trough and high pressure over the eastern U.S."

Lake Michigan, NWS forecast issued 4:32 a.m. ET: "High pressure of 30.1 inches will remain overhead through today, keeping the weather dry and winds light out of the north Breezy southerly winds are expected to build Tuesday afternoon and continue into Thursday, as high pressure departs to the east ahead of an approaching trough. Wind gusts to 30 knots are possible Wednesday afternoon along with building waves, particularly across central and northern portions of the lake."

Lake Huron, NWS forecast issued 3:41 a.m. ET: "High pressure, 30.30 inches, holds over the Great Lakes through tomorrow. Light winds persist with high pressure in place."

Lake Erie, NWS forecast issued 3:53 a.m. ET: "High pressure of 30.20 inches will persist over the Great Lakes through Tuesday before departing to the east on Wednesday and Thursday. A weak cold front will move across Lake Erie Thursday night into Friday."

Lake Ontario, NWS forecast issued 4:02 a.m. ET: "A 29.5 inch low near the Jersey shore this morning will drift northeast along the New England coast through Tuesday while filling to 29.8 inches. This low will finally dissipate over the North Atlantic Wednesday as a 30.1 inch high builds to just off the Mid Atlantic coast."

Tomorrow's Watch Still ahead in BoatNerd's estimates: SLAVYANKA at Vantage Point / Port Huron around 5:04 a.m. ET. That time is a BoatNerd estimate, not a confirmed arrival or lock transit.
About the Author
Chris Izworski is a Bay City, Michigan writer and the founder of the Great Lakes Gazette, a daily maritime news publication. He also publishes Michigan Trout Daily and operates the Michigan Trout Report.
Also by Chris Izworski