A lot of Rice's Point handles grain. But the end of that extensive landfill handles general cargo.
 |
| David Schauer posted Our daily older post from the Basgen Collection shows a nice sampling of salties at the Duluth Port Terminal on October 14, 1976. Also note the Capital 4 elevator is still standing in the distance (large black structure), before its massive fire in January 1978. Andy Caldwell: The nearest ship is the Lawrentian built 1969 of Oregon Steamship Company. The America Star built in 1964. Blue Star Line of London. Tom Burke: I am guessing it has been a while since there were five salties there. Was Mr. Basgen a pilot or did he charter planes for all of his shots? David Schauer: Tom Burke Charter I believe. Fritz Basgen: Tom Burke Jean (my dad) chartered high wing aircraft (usually a Cessna 172 or 180) for his aerial work. He had a favorite pilot at the Duluth airport whose name escapes me now, Ray something. Ray modified his planes so that the left side window would open with the glass retracting up toward the wing. Dad would ride and shoot in the left side seat (usually the pilot's) while Ray piloted from the right side. They would make a pass or two over the subject to get the shot lined up and then Dad would open the window and they'd make a pass for the camera. Jean loved flying and I think this kind of assignment was his favorite. |
 |
| Ben Stalvey posted Can you spot the Manitowoc 4100? Jordan Korzenowski Port of Duluth Mike Holland Yes just left of center. Right behind the aggregate piles for the asphalt plant. [The answer seems to be the red one that is front and center with an "offset boom." So I guess it is not just the 2250 that has a fixed gantry. Note all of the wind tower segments in the background. I assume they are being imported instead of exported.] |
 |
| David Schauer posted Jim Enright: Where are the generators headed? David Schauer: Danielle Putnam Western Canada. Dennis DeBruler shared |
 |
| Dennis DeBruler commented on his share Dennis DeBruler: Here is a better view of that caboose: https://www.facebook.com/groups/280781616123369/posts/958675051667352/ Bill Miotek: I think that caboose passed through Chicago on Saturday 12/04 tacked on the rear of a short local manifest to Eola. Was wondering where it came from and where it was headed. Same reporting marks and paint. Joshua Sigouin: LBR is from NY, Lowville and Beaver River RR owned by GVT. I wasn’t aware they owned a caboose with those reporting marks at all. |
 |
| Dennis DeBruler commented on his share And this is one of the generators that it will help escort: https://www.facebook.com/groups/280781616123369/posts/961924618009062/ David Schauer posted Doug Garn: Did they erect that crane just for this job? Joe Fehr: Doug Garn yes they did. Takes about 4-6 hours to set up a rig like that. Mike Burlaga: Can someone please provide the car number if able to? Thanks David Schauer: Mike Burlaga KWUX200 Mike Burlaga: David Schauer Siemens David Schauer: Mike Burlaga Yep, that is who made the generators. Destination? Todd Cordes: That little critter can move that amount of weight? David Schauer: Todd Cordes If the rail is dry. Low gearing. Steve Horton: Plus most rail car movers transfer some of the weight of the first car they are towing onto the car mover itself. Basically they try and lift up the coupler, which increases the amount of downward force on the car mover's driving wheels. First patented by Trackmobile I believe. TrackMobile claims it can transfer up to 49,500# at each coupler (almost 100,000 if sandwiched between two loaded cars.) David Kruschwitz: Even dumber question - did it come off a ship, and if so which one? Anyone know where it originated? [The comment on the photo below answers this question.] |
 |
| David Schauer commented on Kruschwitz's question Barge that arrived yesterday. They were brought over from the East Coast after being delivered by an ocean vessel. Michael Moran: Ashton Marine, LLC brought them in from Norfolk with the tug Meredith Ashton/AM3600 barge. The barge is only about a year old and has a 3600 ton capacity. I am really excited to see them going on by rail!! |
 |
| Dennis DeBruler commented on David's comment This photo explains what happened. A SPMT went under the generator on the barge and then rolled it off the barge. The SPMT then travelled along the side of the dock to take the generator to the red jack. After the jack was attached to the generator, it raised the generator up and the SPMT was removed. Then the heavy-load flat car that we see already positioned at the far end of the dock was rolled under the generator. According to a satellite image, they had to reinstall a crossing for the railroad spur in Helberg Drive and extend the spur down the side of the dock. https://www.google.com/.../@46.7586599,-92.../data=!3m1!1e3 |
 |
| James Britton commented on the generator loading post They were in Marquette a few days prior seeking shelter from the storm. PC: Chris Cygan Mike Moroni: Definitely high value cargo! |
 |
| Paul Scinocca posted Here comes Meredith Ashton with a barge carrying Generators! Their 1st visit to Duluth. They dropped off the Generators at Port Terminal. December 12, 2021 Paul Scinocca shared |
 |
| David Schauer posted The large high-wide generator load from the port of Duluth was interchanged by CP to BNSF yesterday and was sitting at Rices Point this afternoon. It was scheduled to depart today for western Canada via Sweet Grass. There is a thermal blanket around the load. 12/27/2021 Via Brainerd Sub I heard. |
Duluth Cargo Connect posted two photos with the comment: "Ashton Marine's Meredith Ashton tug arrived at our ro-ro dock over the weekend, feeling fine after an invigorating journey across the Great Lakes with her AM3600 barge and its cargo: two big generators. With our help, the generators were loaded on a special flatcar for rail movement to western Canada.AC"
David Schauer shared
 |
| 1 |
 |
| 2 |
And here is the Meredith Ashton headed back East.
 |
| Rudy Maki posted Meredith Ashton eastbound a the Portage Lake Lift Bridge, Dec. 14, 2021. |
And a few weeks later one of the two generators that were unloaded starts moving West.
 |
| David Schauer posted It moved! After sitting in Duluth for nearly 3 weeks BNSF finally moved the high-wide generator this afternoon on its trip to Alberta via Sweet Grass, Montana. It is amazing how the new Essentia medical campus building has come to dominate the cityscape (plus note the lack of highway overpasses in the "can of worms" interchange). 1/11/2022 Eirik Chiodo: Prolly moving stuff out of the way and replacing stuff behind it. Signals and detectors and stuff. Or waiting for track time on other tracks to avoid stuff for that dimensional load. Typical Dan Hinnenkamp: BNSF Road unit in Duluth…. Uncommon, I’d think. David Schauer: Dan Hinnenkamp Yep, usually during grain season when loads arrive or depart. Russ Bonny: There will be six in total. Dennis Haugen: What’s the rail route? David Schauer: Dennis Haugen Brainerd Sub out of here. Roger Riblett shared |
 |
| David Schauer posted The second large generator at the port of Duluth has been loaded onto KWUX 200 for movement to western Canada. 1/27/2022 [The flatcar has made a round trip, and it is ready for the second one that was unloaded with the first one. The Laker would be docked there for Winter layup.] |
They handled more generators in 2022.
 |
| 1 of 4 photos posted by Paul Scinocca Photography One of the more Unique looking Heavy lift vessels to visit Duluth. The Amoenitis Arrival & Departure August 26-28, 2022. So last year.... To view the arrival and departure in one easy video: https://youtu.be/_2Gb3lSa9QY They arrived Duluth 8/26/2022 8:16:00 with a cargo of Generator Sets for Port terminal. The Gen sets originated in Bremen Germany! They pulled into the Port Terminal dock 08:54 and began their discharge. Departed Port Terminal 8/28/2022 8:04:00 after spending a total of 47.2 hours at the dock. They departed Duluth light 08:16 after spending 48.21 hours in port. |
Are these wind turbine towers being imported or exported? Unfortunately, I would have to guess imported.
 |
| Street View, Sep 2019 |
In a satellite image, they have blades stored in that lot and nacelles are next to the ship.
 |
| Satellite |
I found that the wind turbine equipment was imported.
 |
| Photo Gallery |
A view of one of the cargo cranes.
 |
| Tim Beaulier posted Along the Port terminal. Duluth, MN |
 |
| PulitzerCenter Wind turbine parts arriving at the Port of Duluth-Superior. The port set a new record for intake of wind cargo last year. Image courtesy of the Duluth Seaway Port Authority. United States, undated. |
 |
| PulitzerCenter Workers at the Port of Duluth-Superior handle wind turbine parts. Port officials say they expect wind cargo to be a growing business. Image courtesy of the Duluth Seaway Port Authority. United States, undated. |
In Sep 2019, this land was holding...
 |
| Satellite |
...even more towers and trucks.
 |
| Street View |
I was not able to find the CN Duluth Intermodal Terminal on a satellite map. Is it too new to show up in Dec 2021?
 |
| DluthCargo-intermodal |
 |
| David Schauer posted It is interesting to see how much the Duluth port terminal has developed in 45 years. The large American Hoist building is now occupied by Altec. Also note remnants of the Interstate Bridge trestle still stands on both sides and the large number of grain trucks staged by the UPS building. For my railroad friends a BN switcher works the south end of Birch Street Yard (far center right). October 14, 1976 - Basgen Photography Daniel Holbrook: A couple of other items to note. In the SOO yard there are 2 tracks of mechanical and ice refrigerator cars that at the time were being used to haul potatoes from North Dakota for export. Also, the tank farm at the port terminal having a full complement of tank cars on spot. At the time, one of the commodities moving for export was vegetable oil. David Schauer: Daniel Holbrook Good eye Dan. That matches a comment made on a similar shot I posted a week ago noting one of the ocean vessels hauled food cargo like that. Mick Sertich: One year in the late 80’s ConAgra , Connors Point did 68,000,000 bushels in one year. John Bright: I've hauled my fair share of grain into the port. How much is hauled in today vs train? How much is shipped today vs then? David Schauer: John Bright Just based on observation I'd say 95% by train. Grain is a fraction of what was shipped in the 1970s and 1980s. This past year was exceptionally bad with only 710,990 tons of wheat shipped. As a comparison, in 1978 the port shipped just over 10 million tons (a record) and during the 1970s the average shipment was 6.2 million tons per year. The main reason is that more of our exports are going to the Pacific Rim versus Europe. Also domestic shipments have changed (far less to Buffalo as an example, plus rail competition). It would be interesting to do a similar study for Thunder Bay. Richard Brassard: David Schauer in the early 80’s Thunder Bay shipped around 17 million tons per year. 2021 they shipped 10.2 |
During the Winter the dock is used for layup.
Jane Herrick posted eight photos with the comment:
Having some ship withdrawals this morning I decide to catch a couple of ships at sunrise. Devin the cook came out and invited me through the gate . Next thing I know I’m having coffee onboard with some crew and finally meeting my FB friend Jake who gave me a great tour ! Now that is a great way to start a day !Erie Trader/ Clyde S VanEnkevort
Jane Herrick shared
Dennis DeBruler: I belong to this group because I'm trying to learn about Great Lakes shipping. Which shipyard was this in six years ago?
Jane Herrick: Dennis DeBruler this is at the Port Terminal in Duluth, MN .
 |
| 1 |
 |
| 2 |
 |
| 3 |
 |
| 4 [A good view of the notch for an articulated tug barge.] |
 |
| 5 |
 |
| 6 |
 |
| 7 |
 |
| 8 |
 |
| Dennis DeBruler commented on Jane's comment Thanks. https://maps.app.goo.gl/JT7HiAvwDPtMd5Tp9 Since the tug was separated from the barge, I was thinking it was in a shipyard. But it makes sense that they would be separated during Winter layup. |
On one of the posts concerning the transfer of a generator from a barge to a railcar, a comment mentioned that these large loads make the insurance companies nervous. Just a couple of days after I posted these notes, I came across an example of why they would be nervous.
Bud Lee posted three photos with the comment: "No cranes were harmed I believe. Still a shitty day a few weeks back."
[I suspect that the cranes were brought in to help cleanup the mess.]
Chris Kepple: My father used to be head of test operations and QC there years ago. Not the first time I’ve heard of generators being damaged after completion. I remember a story he told me of one being hit by a train just a few hundred yards from its final destination. Have to take it back and completely go through the whole thing again.
 |
| 1,cropped |
 |
| 2, cropped |
 |
| 3, cropped |
David Schauer posted two photos with the comment: "For those interested in seeing what 'super sack' mineral bags look like here is a crew from Duluth Cargo Connect unloading bags of quartz from the Hudsongracht a few days ago. Each bag holds around a ton. Views are off to the side over water, not directly above the vessel. April 2022"
James Torgeson: That’s the same way sugar comes into Buffalo.
Susan Sletten: Curious... what are the Quartz used for?
David Schauer: Susan Sletten I'm not sure where this specific cargo is headed or its end use, but quartz has many uses. https://uniquecrystalminerals.com/quartz-applications/
Elizabeth Young: Where does the quartz come from.
David Schauer: Elizabeth Young Turkey.
Keegan Beloy: David Schauer it goes to cambria to make countertops.
Dennis DeBruler: Cambria is listed in this on this web page as one of the companies that makes "engineered stone" countertops from quartz.
 |
| 1 |
 |
| 2 |
%20Lake%20Superior%20Ports%20&%20Shipping%20_%20For%20those%20interested%20in%20seeing%20what%20_super%20.png) |
| Comments on David's post |
 |
| David Schauer posted Houtmangracht at the Duluth port terminal unloading super sacks of quartz, a nice inbound commodity over the past couple of years. Edgar B. Speer in the distance undergoing repairs. 6/19/2022 Steve Oberlander: Houtmangracht schedule after unloading?? David Schauer: Steve Oberlander Potash Thunder Bay. |
Rich Pedersen posted three photos with the comment: "Offloading wind generation components from Miena Desgagnes docked at Port Terminal directly on to local heavy haul Kivi Bros Trucking's special trailers. Watching the massive Duluth Cargo Connect crane doing the heavy lifting was pretty neat as this was my first time seeing either of the cranes in action. 6/14/22"
 |
| 1 |
 |
| 2 |
 |
| 3 |
Another case where they use a dock crane rather than the ship's crane.
David Schauer posted two photos with the comment: "A lucky sucker hole of sunlight illuminates the Heerengracht as Duluth Cargo Connect crews unload parts for an autogenous grinding mill destined for Hibtac. 8/1/2022"
 |
| 1 |
 |
| 2 |
 |
| David Schauer posted Busy Port... The Hon. James L. Oberstar departs after unloading stone at Envirotech-Hallett Dock 8 in Superior. Federal Churchill is unloading cement while the Federal Kushiro and Fagelgracht are moored at the port terminal. 8/4/2022 |
 |
| David Schauer posted On my way to find something else, I came across this scan of the Duluth port terminal from 1964. At first I thought it was just a nice shot on a busy day, but upon closer inspection I noticed a large number of cars parked at the terminal, then noticed the unique ship on the far right. It appears that USN LST 1171 was in town for public tours. It is fun discovering interesting things in these older images. Basgen Photography John Clark: AND; 6 salties |
David Schauer posted four photos with the comment: "A few images of the heavy lift vessel Amoenitas unloading project cargo at the Duluth port terminal this weekend (mostly generators). August 27-28, 2022."
David Dalton: What is "Project cargo"?
David Schauer: David Dalton Electrical generators in this case. General term for cargo headed to a specific project.
Rich Pedersen: New power plant in Moose Jaw Saskatchewan.
Robin Wagner: Imagine the work it look to load this ship before it even arrived… to get it weighted and balanced… maximize the space… to get heavy equipment orders to customers at the right time in the most cost effective way.
Some may see “just another cargo ship” but it’s actually a very sophisticated supply chain tech-tool for moving heavy equipment around the world!!
Thank you for these photos- super insightful!!
 |
| 1 Dennis DeBruler: All of the trucks and the four tracked vehicles parked in the storage lot indicates that a RORO must have recently docked. (I'm assuming they were imported instead of exported.) David Schauer: Dennis DeBruler Most of the equipment on this dock is for local firm Altec. They store trucks here before outfitting them with cherry pickers and other specialized equipment. Dennis DeBruler: David Schauer Thanks for the correction. |
 |
| 2 Philip Fox: The objects in blue are heavy electrical generators manufactured in Gemany and Italy. |
 |
| 3 |
 |
| 4 |
The relatively recent upgrade of this dock is paying off so that LOLO ships can offload directly onto several railcars. I checked again (Aug 2022) and the satellite image has yet to be updated to reflect the upgrade.
 |
| Satellite |
 |
| David Schauer posted A view of wind power components being unloaded from the Wagenborg vessel Reestborg at the Duluth port terminal this afternoon. 9/17/2022 [Note the use of a spreader bar so that both cranes can help lift the component. It must be really heavy. I wonder what part of the wind turbine this part would be.] |
More use of the dock cranes.
 |
| Duluth Cargo Connect posted Selected by Maritime Reporter & Engineering News among its Great Ships of 2022, the 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘞. 𝘉𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘳 from Interlake Steamship Company made its first-ever call on our facilities today, delivering a load of special bar quality steel from Monroe, Michigan, on Lake Erie. That’s short-sea shipping at its finest, creating meaningful economic and environmental efficiencies for our region, while also benefitting Twin Ports and Iron Range industry. As always, we’re happy to do the heavy lifting.   : David Schauer |
I've seen tugs use their prop wash to push the ice between the ship and the dock out of the way. But I have not been able to figure out how the tug stays in one position while it pushes the water away.
 |
| Jane Herrick posted Tug Missouri and the Mark W Barker. Jane Herrick shared Jane Herrick shared |
 |
| Jody Aho posted Mark W. Barker continues to unload steel bars at the Port Terminal in Duluth, January 7, 2023. I believe these are turned into steel balls used to grind taconite rock, which is part of the process for extracting iron ore that goes into taconite pellets. She brought in a similar load in late October for that purpose. |
 |
| David Schauer posted A view I wanted yesterday at Duluth was one of the trucks moving a blade to the laydown area. According to Jeff Thoreson, at 260 feet, these are the longest blades ever moved in North America. I could tell they were super long when that truck pulled away from the Roerborg. 10/11/2022 Zach Macmillan: Vestas v164 blades. Douglas van Doorn: Like to know how they drive them out of town lol David Schauer: Douglas van Doorn Up Piedmont and Highway 53. Jeff Thoreson: Jenner, Alberta. |
 |
| Duluth Cargo Connect posted RECORD CARGO ALERT: At 260 feet in length, the wind turbine blades we moved from ship to truck at our facilities this week were the longest ever transported through the Port of Duluth-Superior. Ken Rengo shared |
Another tandem lift.
 |
| David Schauer posted It is always fun to watch the Port's Clyde gantry cranes do a ballet when loading cargo together. Here the pair (built in Duluth during the 1950s at Clyde Iron Works) lift a pre-fab structure aboard a barge that was brought to Duluth by the tug Ecosse. Duluth, MN - August 18, 2023 |
Nov 2024: first container ship arrives. This video is interesting for its description as well as the video itself. I skipped the ship arriving in the dark and started watching at 6:31.
No comments:
Post a Comment