Little Bit Close to the Pier! Elusive, Fresh Out of Refit Thousand Foot Laker
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- čas přidán 26. 05. 2024
- Quite a bit to talk about in this one! Making a very rare arrival through the Duluth Ship Canal on her first trip of the 2024 season, the Stewart J Cort! I’ve only ever caught her one other time on this end of the harbor, 2 years ago. Arriving just days after a lengthy drydock stay in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, where she received her 5 year inspection, new paint and other work over the course of four months, she came straight to the canal! (Isn’t she shiny!) She arrived through the Duluth side to use the fuel dock before going to her usual dock at BNSF Superior. She also features one of the best horns you’ve probably never heard! Personally I’d rank it my third favorite after Barker and Munson. She came probably within 15-20ft of the North Pier at her closest point during the turn. Far, Far closer than the usual 50+ feet they typically sail at, allowing spectators a spectacular closeup experience! The channel has a dredged zone 245ft wide, with an additional 5-10ft of rock buffer between the channel and the pier walls, so she was cutting it a bit close, especially since the back 1/3 of a ship swings outwards during a turn! Fortunately they were on the ball, correcting with thrusters and keeping her off the side. I also came SO close to not being able to see her and only did through an unusual event. For those of you who may not know I’m a school bus driver, and on my last route of the day I bizarrely only had two students. Finished up my route nearly 40 minutes early, saw the Cort and rushed down to the Canal, making it just seconds after the bridge started raising!
Built in 1972, the Cort’s front and stern sections were built in Mississippi, while the middle was built in Erie, Pennsylvania. The front and back, named Stubby (people still haven’t let her live that down) images.app.goo.gl/7e3vJKSfn3e... sailed around the Atlantic through the seaway into the Lakes, never to leave again. She was cut apart, widened with ballast tanks and combined with the 900ft mid-section. The result was a 1,000ft (304m) long experimental vessel like nothing the Great Lakes had ever seen before. One of the largest cargo ships in the world at the time, the Cort could carry over twice as much cargo as the long reigning cargo queen, Edmund Fitzgerald, which she sailed alongside for 3 years. Her massive size proved incredibly successful, to the point of changing the shipping landscape in the Lakes forever. Existing ships had to be refitted and added on to in order to compete. Those that couldn’t be were retired and replaced with larger vessels. 12 additional 1,000ft vessels eventually joined her on the Lakes over the next decade, although she was the only one ever built with the classic profile (and one of the last ships in general to be built with a forward pilothouse).
Some of her other experiential features were less successful however. Her hatch cover design, which rotates open hydraulically, was never used again on any other laker. I’m not entirely certain of the reason but if I had to guess it would be because they have trouble opening and closing in ice and snow and are more prone to mechanical malfunction. Another feature that hasn’t gone over quite as well is her shuttle boom. Stored inside her aft housing, it hides entirely within the hull when she’s underway below large hatches on the sides of the ship. When unloading it pops out of her side and extends roughly 50ft. This design severely limits the ship’s operations today, able to only carry iron ore, and to just two ports: Burns Harbor Indiana and Conneaut Ohio. Only 4 ships were ever built with this system, and only 2 are still active today, Cort and Edgar B Speer. Edwin H Gott had hers replaced with a more versatile traditional boom in 1997, and Roger Blough’s was destroyed by her fire in early 2021.
Despite her limitations, the Cort remains one of the powerhouses of the Great Lakes, hauling over 100 million pounds of iron ore every week to steel mills. The work done on her this year ensures her future for a long while, sailing the lakes as a proud part of the history she influenced so much.
What a stunning beautiful day for this majestic ship to visit Duluth!!! And does she ever look awesome! Regal comes to mind as she glides through the canal. Just beautiful!! THANK YOU, JONATHAN, for this wonderful video! I truly appreciate it and the info you provided about her.
Thank you!! Very glad you enjoyed 😃
Absolutely amazed at that sharp turn! Never would've expected a ship of that size to be so nimble.
Bow thrusters.
Wonderful video and narrative. Thank you so very much!! I love watching the spectators and crew waving at each other -- a warm and treasured memory of days gone by. Truly appreciate your videos.
Thank you! Not days gone by though, I just did this with PRT’s crew not even an hour ago 😁 (lol I know what you mean, couldn’t help it though!) The tourists will definitely remember that for a very long time!
I’m amazed boats this long can survive out on open waters.Fascinating
They look too big to be real
So neat to see the 52 year old gal spiffed up and looking so clean and new. Doesn’t last long on the sides with the rubbing in the locks. Very cool that you captured this at the lift bridge! Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed! Thank you!
I can recall two times it was hit by inbound ships making the turn decades ago, and two times within the past decade that it was hit by outbound ships.
I witnessed her running aground entering the Port of Indiana during the mid 80's. She backed herself off the sandbar and proceeded to unload ore at the then Bethlehem dock. Evidently there was no damage.
Yeah never seen that in person! Not sure I want to either lol
@@jonathanellsworth21 Looked like the wind broadsided her. Did I hear the side thrusters running?
@@danlowe8684I don’t think so, that would usually be a deeper rumble that would be heard pretty clearly, granted I’ve never heard the Cort’s thrusters specifically.
Edit- actually no! I’ll eat some crow there, you can see the thruster spitting out water around the 5:53 mark. Wow that’s super quiet, usually they’re loud enough you can hear them from a mile away
@@jonathanellsworth21 I'm amazed at how quiet the whole ship is - given it's size & speed
Wow. What a good video and what a beautiful day. So glad to see a nice crowd there to welcome them into port. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you! Yes it was a perfect day for her coming in
That's the most awesome horns that I've ever heard...
WE BRAKE FOR NOBODY
What a treasure you are, Jonathan!! Glad you caught her and we got the prize of wonderful history!!!! Beauty she is and I'm with you about the horn, JRB is my favorite, but the Munson (and the Anderson) are my close seconds.
Glad you enjoyed it!! 😊
Looks like a beautiful day in Duluth! That was a close call there as it started its turn. Nice ship horn.
Thank you. Great video
WOW that's a long ship !
She is a beauty . You have a great job for seeing the ships coming and going😊
Yes I love my job lol
Love the Cort!
Those thrusters turned her on a dime at speed. Magnificent maneuverability for such a behemoth. I guess the length of the ship gives them a lot of leverage when they're activated on opposite sides bow and stern.
Love Duluth! Great memories of time spent there when my wife and I were stationed at Duluth IAP with the Air Force in 73-74
I do not think the Cort is owned by Interlake. I think she might be a long term lease boat. The clue is she does not show Interlake Steamship Company on her bow.
You know, I noticed she didn’t have that, but never considered that might the cause, so after seeing the comment I looked on their website and yes it does indeed say she’s been under charter for them since 2005. Good thought! Not sure how I’ve missed that.
@@jonathanellsworth21 I spotted that a while back. The reason I noticed it was because my dad was fleet chief engineer for Interlake from about 1939-1961. Both my brothers sailed as engineers for Interlake.
@@johnmanthey2683Very cool! Any family still on the ships?
This has to be some of the coolest footage you've captured!
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!!
Favorite past time love it
What an awesome and majestic ship. Thanks for sharing
Fantastic. Nice crowd on the pier to welcome the Stewie J to Duluth.
Thank you for this amazing close arrival and turn!
Ooo! That was great! Thanks for the video and for the info to go with it! I just found your channel and have subscribed!
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it that much! 😃
Looking good, Stewie.
Jonathan,
I just wanted to reach out and express my admiration for your dedication and passion in recording and watching ships. Your presence down on the pier so often and your friendly interactions with others are truly commendable. Many people don’t get to see that side of you behind the camera, but I do. You are really friendly and welcoming to all you encounter. Although I don’t comment frequently, I thoroughly enjoy your videos as you know.
This video of the Stewart J. Cort is particularly fascinating. It made me wonder if a vessel that is 1000 feet long with a forward pilot house could be at a disadvantage in a turn like this. Other vessels with the same pilot location (i.e. Munson) are much smaller. It’s something to think about and could perhaps explain why the corner got so close.
Thanks you Mike! Definitely means a lot! I love doing this 😁 Yeah I’m not sure if it was the size or just the fact that they don’t do this all that often, (first trip of the season too so could have just been getting back into the hang of things) or what all the factors were but she was definitely over further than normal.
Gorgeous ship..😊😊😊😊😊😊
That she is!
Beautiful big girl, close up and personal, and look at those fans will ya! Looking like munchkins next to that baby. Stellar entrance and masterful navigation. Great vid!
Another great catch. I'll be up there myself one of these years, I will see this with my own eyes.
Something you never forget
Gotta love the country life in Minnesota!
Lol not quite country 😁 But we still love it
Nice Vid!
Looks like she's had a few bumps.. her "ribs" are showing here and there.
I enjoyed your video. Thanks for posting.😊
I noticed that as well, is that normal?
Super video! It was as close to the wall as one can get! 👍
At least without potentially hitting it anyway! Thank you! Glad you enjoyed!
@@jonathanellsworth21 👍
Key words not stated, 5 year inspection. The paint job looks terrific ! Compare this look to any of the Canadian rust buckets ! Pride of ownership shines !
“Inspection” is in the description, can add “5 year” if you want lol
Ya know at first I was skeptical of your title. But gotta say....thats as close to the pier as I've seen any of the big boats.
Absolutely excellent video!
Thanks!
Awesome video makes me miss Duluth
Beautiful video. Captured the crowd, and how lonnnngggg this ships are, a fifth of a mile! Subscribed.
Seeing spectators out this time of year in jackets is funny to me. Here in Texas it was 101F today at my house. We don't get too many Big Ships here in Austin, Texas either.. Minnesota's a great place.
Galveston definitely gets some this size! Yeah it’s warm in the city too, but the lake stays about 40 degrees year round, so the area close to it can be cold no matter what the weather is elsewhere in town!
Nice job capturing the Cort. I need to schedule a return trip ,but appreciate your work Jonathan.
Thank you
That was really close
Looks like Stewart has been brushing against a few things with its dents and scrapes
Yeah it’s a tight squeeze for her in and out of the Soo locks. She fits inside with less than a foot on each side if I remember correctly, so anything and everything can cause her to hit. They repaired a lot over the winter, she had much more damage last year, but hard to make her perfect again! It’s a LOT of very expensive steel
Very cool! Thanks for sharing. Amazing how they can maneuver in such a small area. Our boat the Utopia (she was built in Sturgeon Bay in 1946) is 70" and it seems scary to turn around in the Manitowoc river!
can see she's taken a beating by the seas on her hull plates...imagine the waves that can do that...
The Cort and the Mesabi miner are my two favorites of the fleet!
You weren't kidding. Definitely a little out of alignment 😅
Just a little lol 😂 Certainly made it very cool though
Greatcamera work
What a thrill that must have been to those lining the pier!
Oh yes! 😁 Even back from where I was!
Rare to see a ship rt out of refit w freshly painted hull and no scratches!!
Yeah she looks great!
Did it have a Harbor Pilot on board?
Nope! Laker captains are usually pilot rated
A nice ship
How often do ships traverse the channel? If I planned a trip to Duluth- is it pretty easy to see a passage?
Depends entirely on the day! Sometimes it’s pretty easy and I’m literally having to dodge ships to get to work on time. Other days there’s nothing at all. I have quite a few tricks and resources I use to time them all. If you’re interested in visiting or even just watching them live on the Harbor Cams I’d be happy to share how it all works!
@@jonathanellsworth21 . I live in Alaska- so I’d make a trip there specifically to watch the ships - so I’d wanna come at a somewhat busy time
@@rlwpac96 that’s always difficult to tell in advance. Anything and everything can delay or accelerate a ship’s schedule, and they often leave without much warning. But there’s a few good spots around the area as well, not just at the Canal, so that’ll increase your chances dramatically. Two Harbors and the Superior entry are both about a half hour drive, Silver Bay about an hour. Thunder Bay, Marquette and the Soo Locks are also heavy shipping areas on Lake Superior, although they’re a little too far out to make it into a simple day trip from here. Not sure about Thunder Bay but you can get pretty close to the ships at all of those locations except at Silver Bay.
....just wanted to show you the new paint job up close.
A rare sight to see the Stewart J. Cort in Duluth these days.
Good God. Is that my wife driving that thing? 😂
The water looks very high… which is good news.
How deep is the canal?
35ft roughly, depending on the water level of the lake
At least she didn’t hit it. I remember when another ship hit.
Some people all bundle up, others in shorts and t's.
The city is fairly a nice temperature (high 60s-low 70s, but the lake stays about 40 degrees so it can get chilly on the waterfront regardless! But yeah that also just Minnesota in general lol
Por gentileza, quantos metros tem esse navio?
304
She looks great, whos going to put the first scratch on her hull?
Imagine if the wind blew outward with an inbound ship. A lot of wet people.
Here’s the most recent example of that :) enjoy!
czcams.com/video/kqk7g9EOH-M/video.html
740 feet is the maximum that can fir through the Locks on the St.Lawrence seaway..
I thought that light pole was a goner!
Where is this at?
Duluth, Minnesota! (USA)
Pier or warf????
Could possibly be concerned a wharf in this section but ultimately it doesn’t really matter because it’s all named the Duluth North Pier, even if it technically isn’t 100% accurate in this area. I don’t think anyone’s ever referred to it as a wharf 😂😂
big ship
Second. The first was a couple weeks ago from his 2024 maiden voyage from Sturgeon Bay after a 5 yr overhaul and repaint.
-unless this is from that entry. Couple weeks late- saw another video showing that a couple weeks ago
Yeah, she left Sturgeon Bay and came straight here. Then loaded up iron ore and went to Burns Harbor, but there were no stops between Sturgeon Bay and Duluth unless you count the Soo Locks. And yes this is from that entry, I sometimes don’t release videos immediately
Bonjour, merci pour le partage, duluth est très loin de la France, helas
Yes it is! Glad to have you here though! We’ve had some ships come to and from our port that went your way though! Last year we had several iron ore shipments go to Dunkirk, and ships going to and from the Netherlands are a fairly common sight!
@@jonathanellsworth21 glad to Knowl about That, thanks a lot
I don't get it coat an shorts they wear
Welcome to Minnesota 😂😂
It truly is amazing something as big and heavy as this ship can float!
Ships in Duluth have gotten a lot closer than that they rubbed the channel walls.
Very rare but yeah! Still pretty close and pretty amazing to see it without the scary part lol
Hope it doesn't loose power.
It wasn't close to the pier. At least 15 feet between the starboard side of the ship and the north pier. Just an optical illusion by your phone's camera
Yep that’s all covered in detail in the video description. They’re a lot closer than usual even with that distance, right on the very edge of the dredged zone.
That's a lot of football fields.
At least she has the bridge up front, not half a mile away on the stern. Should have seen where she was going.
1000 feet is 320 feet short of a quarter mile...
A lot of water being pumped out.
Yep, along the sides are large ballast tanks which they fill with water when they’re empty so they don’t roll so much. Then as they’re pulling into port they drain the tanks, raising the ship up so they can load
@@jonathanellsworth21Too small for ballast water outlets. I’d bet the farm that’s the sea water cooling over boards.
Home port Wilmington, Delaware. How often does she go there?😂😂😂
She can’t go there, she can’t leave the upper four Great Lakes. A lot of US ships are home ported there because Wilmington has tax benefits for shipping companies (and other companies as well)
@@jonathanellsworth21 I know! Tax dodges just don't seem right, the Great Lakes states could use that tax money.
Strangest one I saw, years ago was a saltie, Menominee I believe, home ported in Berne, Switzerland. The captain played folk music on accordion while going through the Welland.
@@SteamCrane Menominee is an ATB Laker home ported in Cleveland, so that’s probably not it… that’s pretty funny though, home ported in a landlocked country lol. Not sure I know which one that was
@@jonathanellsworth21 Salty Menominee, long ago, saw in the ditch. Traditional ocean design, like the __Fjells. Hauled lumber from Sweden or somewhere. Had a crest on the bow.
Roughly the same length as a modern aircraft carrier.
I don't see how it got close to the pier! Where?
The whole time she was very close! Maybe 30ft out, then as the stern came past she starts turning, gets maybe 15-20 feet from the pier. For a thousand foot long, hundred foot wide ship that weight nearly 75 million pounds empty, that’s incredibly tight margins while going that speed! Usually they’re at least 50-60ft out or more. You can also sort of see her side thrusters engage around the 5:50 mark to keep the stern off the wall as they start to turn.
Dont know about anything maritime, how come the ship steams in and not brought in by tugs.
🇵🇭🎉🥳⛴️🛳️
INTERLAKE
I can't believe people actually go to watch ships come to port
Always been popular in the lakes! With the internet it’s started spreading around to other ports on the oceans as well to a degree
You must be a boring person.. who wouldn't want to watch such a huge engineering marvel?
@@mikecarr8617 No, I have other things to do and a Life.. You seen 1 Ship you have seen them all is my motto. I suggest going and get a Life. Ships will be around for a Long Long time, You will not.
That's your motto? Kinda specific, but I guess it works for you. So do you say it every time you meet someone or do you just have it tattooed somewhere? 😅
Alright let’s keep the insults and name calling to a minimum here. Everyone has a right to an opinion and are free to disagree, but personal attacks on other people are not allowed. Any more and I’ll have to start removing comments.
Enjoy all your boat friends. kind of really like what's going on 😮except for the Karen's . don't add it to the great show. the ignorant faces frowning and uncomfortable with what you are doing. ????? they deserve to be shown on my 100 inch TV . I just enjoy Laughing 😃 so I can watch them . I love your show thank you.😅
I’m glad you enjoyed but… ???
It may have been mentioned, however this is not a "pier". The north canal wall is in view as the Cort starts her turn to port to head down water in the Port of Duluth. A very common occurence if one switches to the Bridge Cam as a boat passes. Folks tend to just watch the Canal Cam and not watch the canal exit (via the Bridge Cam).
The North Pier is usually considered the whole side of the canal, it continues under the lift bridge and around the corner slightly. It’s all a single structure, roughly 1/3 mile long. Yes, the turn is very common but how close she got is not.
This horn is good, but the Barker I find very annoying.
jesus take the phones away from some of these people
Lol what do you think I film on? 😂
Almost as much fun as watching paint dry.
WTC, WTO, Pentagon, dan MOSCOu bagaimana kalau membalas yang satu ini :????, 2024 ❔sama tetapi beda 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
The side o it looks like he has hit the wall more than Dale Earnhardt. Needs quit riding around blowing the horn and watch where he's going.
52 years of squeezing through the Soo Locks will do that 😂 they straitened it out a lot over the winter but not completely
I only saw one scratch on this side. All those "dents" on her are from 50 yrs of her hull plates battering waves and ice and stress on the open water. Look at any Navy ship and you'll see the same thing. And the fresh glossy paint really sets them off, just like on your car.
That’s a big son of a gun ship bit close to the concrete wall ,but it looks great I wish I was there cheers ❤️🙏😃👍🦘🇦🇺🧌