I could talk your ear off about shipping, the steel industry, and the Great Lakes. It was one of my favorite passtimes while living in Duluth. The boat I'm piloting here is my little speedster, the "Omphalos." I use it to check out the cargo ships that come to Duluth. (Omphalos is a Greek word meaning "Belly button of the Universe" and refers to a landmark in ancient Delphi.)

The ship in the background is the John Sherwin, owned by Interlake Steamship Company, laid up in the Duluth/Superior harbor since 1982. She is waiting for an upturn in the shipping industry that's optomistic enough to justify the millions of dollars in updates she would need to operate profitably.

You may have heard of the Edmund Fitzgerald which sank with all hands in 1975 after leaving Duluth in an early winter storm. The "Fitz" at 730' long was similar in size to the Sherwin pictured here.

In the foreground is a retired US Army Corps of Engineers Tug boat that was used to service harbors and navigational channels. It is too large and expensive to run nowadays so smaller tugs have taken her place.

The ship in the background is the William A. Irvin, a retired freighter that is now a museum ship in the Duluth harbor. Just for fun I used to be a tour guide on this boat. It was built for US Steel's fleet in 1938 and retired in 1978 during a recession in the American steel industry. She is 610' long, weighs 25,000 tons fully loaded, and was among the first "Lakers" to be outfitted with steam turbine engines. Just a step smaller than the Fitz, the Irvin was retired because it is too small. The bigger boats used nowadays carry five times the cargo and do it in two thirds the time. The Irvin's 2000 hp pales in comparison to the modern diesel 1000-footers that boast as much as 19,500 hp.

This is the oldest ship operating on the Greal Lakes, built in 1906. Take a trip with me on the Southdown Challenger

The Arthur M. Anderson left Duluth just a couple hours after the Edmund Fitzgerald on November 10, 1975. She was following the Fitz across Lake Superior through an especially treacherous winter storm. When the Fitz started floundering, the Anderson's Captain Cooper was in radio contact and watching her closey on radar. At last report the Fitz was "holding her own" and just minutes later she disapeared. When the Anderson caught up to her last known position they reported 30-foot waves and no sign of the Fitz despite a thorough search. The Anderson is still a common sight around the Great lakes.

So what do these big boats carry? Click here for a little more detail on the Arthur M. Anderson, bulk freighter cargoes and the loading process.

The Marine Trader is what's known as a "Bum Boat." These specialized vessels are outfitted as floating convenience stores. They typically reside in busy harbors and tie up to ships that come into port. While the freighter is loading or discharging cargo, the sailors go down ladder to the Bum Boat and shop for convenience items; work clothes, boots and gloves; cases of beverages disguised as soda-pop; and so on. Some Bum Boats even deliver mail to the crewmembers.

The Marine Trader is Duluth's very own Bum Boat. It still operates occasionally, servicing foreign and domestic vessels. A more common dockside sight these days is the "Bum Bus," an old mini school bus converted for the same purpose, though most sailors agree that the bus is a pale substitute for the rich old tradition of the Bum Boat. This particular Bum Boat is for sale but I won't give you any more details than that because I don't want anyone to buy it before I get a chance at it myself. :-)

Click here for more on the Marine Trader

Another rich maritime tradition is the trading of salutes. Often when vessels encounter each other or pass under a bridge they will blow a "salute" with their steam or air powered horns. Click here to witness a salute to Duluth's Aerial Lift Bridge from the John G. Munson. You'll hear the bridge answer back too. The buzzing sound you hear is the idling of my little Omphalos. The Munson is pretty universally respected for having one of the best-sounding whistles of all the Lakers.

A spot to relax on the fantail of the Kinsman Independent - a ship with an interesting history. It's steam engine was salvaged from the Alcoa Protector,a cargo ship sunk during WWII. The last remaining American "Straight-decker" (boats without self-unloaders) may no longer ply the waters of the great lakes. Having made her last trip under Kinsman ownership, her future is uncertain. A recent re-powering is apparently refitting her for use under new owners.

The Alpena, in my opinion, is one of the most beautiful ships on the Great Lakes. At just over 500' long she is one of the smallest as well. This ship carries cement from Alpena, MI to ports around the Great lakes. Her fleetmate the J.A.W. Igelhart is just as beautiful. An old-time steamer, she glides quietly through the sunset waters of the Duluth harbor with agility and grace.

Check out my links page for more boatwatching info.