Not Buick related, but this stuff can affect the economy, both locally and foreign. We can complain about the weather. but when you have a 800 foot ship full of iron pellets, or coal or what ever with a back up behind it, it becomes a critical issue in a hurry. This is part of the daily Lakes and Seaway news I put up daily on my forum www.flybridge.proboards.com The lakes (mostly the locks) at Sault Ste. Marie and the passage on the Welland canal around Niagra falls escarpment are due to close for the winter for maintenance etc. If any ships lag behind, they are ice bound on the lakes for the winter. That can mean 2-3 months behind schedule paying a crew to sit and get bored silly. Ice continues to delay passages of last Seaway salties 1/2 - On Monday afternoon the Federal Biscay became lodged in the Snell Lock, located near Massena N.Y. She was downbound and had spent several hours anchored at Wilson Hill in very cold temperatures, which caused ice to gather on the hull. She is 77' 11" wide and the lock is 80' feet wide. She stopped moving while passing through the upper gates of the lock. The crew of the tug Robinson Bay was called in to bring the tug over to the stern of the Biscay, where they secured a tow line. After some time pulling, the effort was called off. It was announced over the radio to one of the ships in line waiting to go down the Seaway that a new plan had to be made to get the ship moving again. Meanwhile, overnight temperatures will plunge to below -20C, causing more ice to form between the ship and the concrete walls. Waiting above Snell lock is Mitq. Anchored in the river above Massena are Beatrix and Billesborg. Pacific Huron may join the lineup Tuesday as she has a pilot arriving at 8 p.m. Monday evening. She is cleared to go down the river after passing inspection yesterday. Meanwhile, at 8:10 p.m. Monday Florence Spirit called in westbound at Sodus Point. She gave an ETA of 10 a.m. for Hamilton. That is the last upbound vessel for the Montreal-Lake Ontario section. At 9:30 p.m. Monday, Ocean A. Simard was getting under way to leave Kingston and head down river to assist at Snell Lock. She gave ETAs of 11:30 p.m. for Quebec Head, 0130 for Crossover Island and 8 a.m. for Snell Lock, ice conditions permitting. https://www.fleetmon.com/maritime-news/2018/21007/fednavs-bulk-carrier-frozen-snell-lock-st-lawrence/ 1/3 - Seaway – Efforts to pull the Federal Biscay out of Snell Lock Tuesday were not successful. The tugs Ocean A. Simard and Robinson pulled together for hours and the ship is frozen solid into the lock. The Ocean A. Simard has departed upbound in the Seaway. 1/4 - The tugs Ocean A. Simard and Robinson Bay tried and failed to free Federal Biscay from Snell Lock ice on Wednesday. Leonard M was enroute Wednesday night to try and get traffic moving again. Four other saltwater vessels are behind Federal Biscay: Mitq, Beatrix, Billeborg and Pacific Huron. The St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation is currently working to dislodge the vessel, according to a media release from SLSDC. They said the vessel was not damaged, but was immobilized because of the heavy ice buildup on the lock wall, as well as on the vessel’s hull. “Efforts to free the vessel from the lock chamber will continue so that the remaining four commercial vessels in queue, as well as the Federal Biscay, can depart the Seaway. Once all the vessels have successfully transited the U.S. locks, the U.S. portion of the Seaway will close to commercial navigation, completing the 2017 navigation season,” they said. The Seaway was scheduled to close for the season on Dec. 31. Enjoy yer warm toezies fellas!!! ws
It really goes beyond just that... Theres literally thousands of tons of pressure generated into the lock chamber (between the doors) and they arent infallable. Ripped out by the roots at this time of year, means spring before they can get repaired. The ships behind will be stuck, and if you can imagine winterizing a car or house thats 10 stories tall 80 feet wide and 1000 feet long you can just about guess the logistics behind that. The seaway cant be drained but they do drain the Welland canal (around Niagra falls) which would set the ship(s) in the mud for the winter. Just one gigantic mess. This is the drained Welland Canal... ws
Its coming down to the wire... ws 1/5 - Thursday morning the tug Leonard M joined Ocean A. Simard and Robinson Bay in the effort to pull the Federal Biscay out of Snell lock, where she has been frozen for three days. The total estimated horsepower applied to this was 12,820, with Leonard M 4200 bhp; Ocean A. Simard 3,290 bhp; Robinson Bay 1,750 shp and Federal Biscay, 3580 mhp (considering a ship in reverse applies about 30 percent thrust). Unfortunately their efforts to move the ship out of the lock failed. The four ships waiting above the blockade are Mitiq, Beatrix, Billesborg, and Pacific Huron. The Seaway Development Corporation says there's heavy ice buildup on the lock wall and on the ship's hull. This is clogging up the system. Three other ships trying to exit the seaway before it closes for the season are now located near either the Eisenhower Lock wall, the Snell Lock wall and the Iroquois Lock wall. There's an open question as to whether the Seaway is preparing those ships to spend the winter in the waterway. If this happens, officials say they believe this would be a first for the seaway. The Seaway was supposed to close for the winter on December 31. The Federal Biscay, which is carrying soybeans, has delayed the closure. Seaway officials had no further comment.
On the big lake the call GITCHIGOOMIE. This deal is like having a hemorhoid block up the whole works. I think its the last lock on the seaway. They need to mount several 455 Buick motors to winch drums to pull it back out! That and a few semi loads of salt; grab yer shovels boys! Those 2" wires are like nylon thread. ws
