Lake Erie Shipping News & Freighter Reports

McCarthy, Mariner, and Munson running upbound together tells you something about Erie's August schedule.

The lower lakes stayed busy Saturday while a 29.7-inch low built waves to four feet over Michigan.

Steve Hughes grew up watching ore boats in Marquette; he ends three decades as pilot of the longest vessel on the lakes.

A 2028 truck ferry MOU puts cargo trucks on Lake Erie; the docks meanwhile stayed busy from Toledo to Conneaut.

Two vessels sharing a family name worked opposite ends of the port on the same Sunday morning dispatch.

A parade of arrivals at Cleveland, Toledo, and Sandusky on Saturday leaves the south shore humming with cargo work.

Two ships of the same federal fleet split Lake Erie's ends on Saturday, one arriving, one gone for the St. Lawrence.

The EPA's monitoring vessel takes a working berth on Erie as a tug-barge pair heads north for limestone country.

A Viking expedition ship leaves the Canadian shore as coal, ore, and smoke define a busy Thursday on the lower lakes.

Captain Steve Hughes makes a Tuesday delivery on the longest hull on the lakes, with retirement waiting in December.

Two lakers, one freed slot, and a third vessel loading at George Gradel: Monday's Toledo ran with no wasted water.

Monroe sent out two boats Saturday morning while Sandusky gained a pair and limestone work resumed at Marblehead.

Sandusky loads her partial, Toledo's CSX dock finishes the job; Monroe also clears three and welcomes two.

Albert and Margaret move from holding to a working berth as a front three days out starts the clock for Midwest Terminals.

Not ore, not stone: a specific cargo and a specific berth mark Tuesday's most unusual lakeside call.

Sunday's Ohio port card stretches from Erie's south shore to the Maumee River, with Toledo's Midwest Terminals holding three vessels at once.

Chris Izworski, reporting from Bay City for the Great Lakes Gazette, turns to a landmark moment for the lakes this past weekend: the U.S. Navy officially commissioned the USS Cleveland (LCS 31) into active...

Chris Izworski, reporting from Bay City for the Great Lakes Gazette, notes a milestone weekend for Great Lakes maritime heritage: the U.S. Navy officially commissioned the USS Cleveland (LCS 31) into active...

Chris Izworski, reporting from Bay City for the Great Lakes Gazette, turns to a significant warship movement this week: the USS Cleveland (LCS-31), a Freedom-class littoral combat ship, was downbound at Port...

Spring breakup is underway at the Sault Ste. Marie locks. The U.S. and Canadian Coast Guard have maintained steady icebreaking operations through the St. Marys River, allowing a measured but consistent flow of...

The Federal Nakagawa, an ocean-going vessel, arrived in Toledo Monday and claimed the distinction of being the season’s first saltwater caller to the port. She is currently loading grain at the ADM terminal...

The tug-barge Dirk S. VanEnkevort and Michigan Trader departed Toledo, Ohio, late Friday morning to begin their season and make what could be the first passage through the Soo Locks of 2026. The VanEnkevort...

The steamer Alpena has departed Cleveland bound for her namesake port to load cement, marking the start of her 84th sailing season. The vessel, built in 1942 as the *Leon Fraser* by Great Lakes Engineering...